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Crispy Rustic Italian Bread

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A simple and quick homemade rustic Italian bread with a crispy crust and chewy center, perfect for any meal and easy to make with pantry staples.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups (480 g) all-purpose flour, preferably unbleached
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons (one packet) active dry yeast
  • 1 ¾ cups (420 ml) warm water, around 105°F (40°C)
  • 2 teaspoons (10 g) salt
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil (optional but recommended)
  • 1 teaspoon (4 g) sugar (optional for yeast activation)

Instructions

  1. Activate the yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 ¾ cups warm water with 1 teaspoon sugar and 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
  2. Mix the dough: Add 4 cups all-purpose flour and 2 teaspoons salt to the yeast mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough forms. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and mix until combined.
  3. Knead the dough: Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky but not sticky.
  4. First rise: Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 ½ to 2 hours until doubled in size.
  5. Shape the loaf: Deflate dough gently and shape into a round or oval loaf without punching down too hard.
  6. Second rise: Place shaped dough on parchment-lined baking sheet or preheated pizza stone. Cover loosely and let rise for 30–45 minutes until puffy.
  7. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). If using a pizza stone, place it in the oven to heat.
  8. Score and bake: Score the top of the loaf with shallow slashes. Place bread in oven and add a pan of hot water on the bottom rack to create steam.
  9. Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden brown with a crackly crust. Tap bottom of loaf; it should sound hollow.
  10. Cool: Transfer bread to a wire rack and cool completely before slicing.

Notes

Use warm water around 105°F to activate yeast properly. Avoid adding too much flour during kneading to keep bread light. Adding steam in the oven helps create a crispy crust. Score the bread before baking to control expansion and prevent cracking. Let bread cool completely before slicing for best texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: rustic bread, Italian bread, homemade bread, crispy crust bread, easy bread recipe, artisan bread

Find it online: https://blingbite.com/crispy-rustic-italian-bread-recipe-perfect-homemade-loaves-easily/