Description
Crusty Italian bread brings rustic charm straight from Mediterranean kitchens. Hearty crackled exterior and tender interior invite you to savor authentic Mediterranean flavors with each delightful slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups flour
- 1 ⅓ cups warm water
Leavening and Sweetener:
- 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Seasoning and Fat:
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons olive oil
Instructions
- Awaken the yeast by combining warm water, active dry yeast, and brown sugar in a spacious mixing bowl. Allow the mixture to bloom and develop a frothy surface for approximately 5 minutes.
- Incorporate olive oil and salt into the activated yeast mixture, creating a foundational liquid base.
- Gradually introduce flour to the liquid, integrating it methodically to form a cohesive dough mass.
- Utilize a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment to knead the mixture, developing gluten and achieving a smooth, elastic texture that cleanly separates from the bowl’s sides.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled container, covering it with a kitchen towel. Let the dough undergo fermentation in a warm environment until its volume expands dramatically, roughly 30-40 minutes.
- Gently deflate the risen dough, carefully dividing it into two equal portions.
- Shape each segment into elongated loaves, ensuring smooth surfaces and tapered ends.
- Drape a moistened cloth over the formed loaves, allowing a second rise until they visibly increase in size.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, positioning a shallow pan on the lower rack.
- Whisk an egg with water to create a glossy wash that will enhance the bread’s exterior.
- Delicately brush the loaves with the egg mixture, then score a precise central incision along each loaf’s length.
- Pour hot water into the preheated shallow pan to generate steam, which will contribute to a crisp, golden crust.
- Bake the loaves for 25-30 minutes, monitoring their transformation to a rich, amber hue.
- Verify doneness by tapping the crust, which should produce a hollow resonance.
- Extract the bread from the oven and transfer to cooling racks, allowing complete temperature reduction before slicing.
Notes
- Steam creates the perfect golden, crusty exterior that makes this bread authentic and irresistible.
- Proofing times are crucial for developing rich flavor and soft, airy texture in the bread.
- Adding hot water to the oven generates essential moisture that helps achieve traditional Italian bread’s signature crispy crust.
- Egg wash gives the bread a gorgeous, glossy golden-brown appearance and enhances its professional bakery look.
- Room temperature ingredients and precise yeast activation ensure consistent, reliable bread rising every single time.
- Cutting the dough before baking allows steam to escape and creates those classic artisan bread decorative lines.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 248
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 375 mg
- Fat: 3.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg