Description
Bake bakery-style Italian bread at home! This simple recipe delivers a golden, crunchy crust and a soft, chewy interior. It is perfect for beginners and uses basic pantry ingredients for delicious results every time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (about 105-115°F)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the bowl
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it stand for 5 minutes until foamy. This shows your yeast is active.
- Add the flour, salt, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the yeast mixture. Mix with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. This develops the gluten for a chewy texture.
- Lightly oil a clean bowl with olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it once to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until it has doubled in size. This first rise is important for flavor.
- Gently punch down the dough. Shape it into a round or oval loaf. Place the loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or in a prepared loaf pan.
- Cover the loaf loosely and let it rise again for 30 to 45 minutes, or until puffy. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) during the last 15 minutes of this second rise.
- Score the top of the loaf 2 or 3 times with a sharp knife to allow steam to escape. For extra crust, lightly spritz the loaf with water before baking.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 200-210°F.
- Remove the bread from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. Enjoy your homemade Italian bread!
Notes
- For an extra crispy crust, place a shallow pan on the bottom rack while preheating and pour 1 cup of hot water into it right before putting the bread in the oven to create steam.
- If you want a softer crust, brush the top of the loaf with melted butter immediately after it comes out of the oven.
- This bread is perfect for dipping in olive oil or serving alongside pasta dishes.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 0.5
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 2.5
- Saturated Fat: 0.3
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.2
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 0