Description
Enjoy the irresistible aroma and delightful taste of homemade crusty Italian bread with this simple yet rewarding recipe. This bread features a golden-brown crust and a soft, airy interior, perfect for dipping in olive oil or serving as the base for hearty sandwiches. With minimal hands-on time and the freedom to customize with herbs or cheese, this loaf is sure to impress your family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (500g)
- 1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast (5g)
- 1 ½ cups warm water (110°F or 43°C) (360ml)
- 2 teaspoons salt (10g)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (30ml)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix warm water with active dry yeast and let it sit for about 5 minutes until frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour and salt.
- Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in the activated yeast mixture along with olive oil.
- Mix until a rough dough forms, then knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Shape the dough into a round loaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for about 30-35 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped on the bottom.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (60g)
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg