Description
A simple and rustic artisan-style crusty bread featuring a crispy golden crust and a soft, chewy interior. This no-knead recipe uses basic pantry ingredients and baking in a hot Dutch oven to develop its perfect texture and flavor.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose or bread flour
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups warm water
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the flour, instant yeast, salt, and warm water until a sticky dough forms. Stir just until everything is blended.
- First Rise: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let the dough rise at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours until it doubles in size and is bubbly on the surface.
- Preheat Oven and Dutch Oven: About 30 minutes before baking, preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) and place a heavy Dutch oven with its lid inside to heat thoroughly.
- Shape Dough: Lightly flour a piece of parchment paper. Turn the risen dough onto it and gently shape it into a round loaf without kneading to preserve the air bubbles.
- Bake Covered: Carefully lift the parchment with the dough and place it into the hot Dutch oven. Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes, trapping steam to develop the crust.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the lid and continue baking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the bread has a deep golden crust and is crisp to the touch.
- Cool: Transfer the bread to a wire rack and let it cool completely before slicing to allow the crumb to set.
Notes
- For enhanced flavor, allow the dough to rest overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
- Using a Dutch oven creates steam during baking, which is key to achieving the crunchy crust.
- You can substitute bread flour for all-purpose flour for a chewier texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: European-Inspired
