Description
This Crusty Italian Bread features a golden, crunchy crust and a soft, airy interior, perfect for sandwiches or as a side with your favorite soup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups bread flour
- 1 ⅓ cups warm water (about 110°F)
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- Add bread flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Mix until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm area until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Punch down the dough, shape it into a loaf, and place it on a baking sheet.
- Let the dough rise again for about 30 minutes.
- Score the top of the loaf with a sharp knife and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and crusty.
Notes
For an extra crunchy crust, place a pan of water in the oven while baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 165 kcal
- Sugar: 0.8 g
- Sodium: 390 mg
- Fat: 1.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Crusty Italian Bread, homemade bread, baking, Italian cuisine, bread recipes