Description
This crusty Italian bread recipe delivers a golden crust and soft, airy interior — the perfect homemade loaf for soups, pasta, and olive oil dipping. Simple ingredients, timeless flavor, and authentic Italian texture.
Ingredients
3 1/2 cups (440g) bread flour
1 1/2 cups (360ml) warm water (105–110°F)
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
Cornmeal for dusting
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. Add flour, salt, and olive oil. Stir until dough forms, then knead 8–10 minutes until smooth.
3. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour or until doubled.
4. Punch down, shape into a loaf, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet dusted with cornmeal.
5. Cover and rise again 30 minutes until puffy. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C) with a metal pan on the lower rack.
6. Slash top of loaf, pour 1 cup hot water into the pan for steam, and bake 25–30 minutes until golden and crusty.
7. Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before slicing.
Notes
For extra crustiness, mist the loaf with water halfway through baking. Store wrapped in linen for 2 days or freeze slices for later.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg