Description
This rustic Italian crusty bread is simple, hearty, and full of old-world character. With a chewy interior and a crisp, golden crust, it pairs beautifully with soups, stews, or a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon instant yeast
- 1½ cups warm water
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and yeast. Add the warm water and stir until a sticky, shaggy dough forms.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean towel and let it sit at room temperature for 12 to 18 hours.
- Once the dough has risen, lightly flour a surface and turn the dough out onto it. Gently shape it into a ball.
- Place the dough on a piece of parchment paper and let it rest for 30 to 45 minutes while the oven preheats.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F with a Dutch oven or heavy covered pot inside.
- Carefully remove the pot, lift the dough with the parchment paper, and place both into the hot pot.
- Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until the crust is deep golden brown.
- Remove the bread from the pot and cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- This bread relies on a slow rise for flavor development.
- Use a kitchen scale for accurate measurements.
- Prep Time: 12 hours
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 0.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg