Description
Rustic golden crusty artisan bread loaf reveals Mediterranean baking magic with simple ingredients and classic techniques. Professional bakers and home cooks will relish creating this authentic, crackling-crusted masterpiece that connects you directly to generations of traditional bread making.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread Base:
- 3 cups (375 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups (360 milliliters) warm water
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
- 2 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- In a spacious mixing vessel, thoroughly combine the dry ingredients, ensuring an even distribution of flour, salt, and instant yeast.
- Create a hydration environment by gently introducing warm water, using a wooden utensil to transform the mixture into a cohesive, tacky dough.
- Seal the bowl completely with plastic wrap or a pristine kitchen cloth, allowing the dough to undergo fermentation at ambient temperature for 12–18 hours until it visibly expands and develops a bubbly texture.
- Prepare the oven by heating to 450°F (230°C) and positioning a Dutch oven with its lid inside to reach optimal temperature for 30 minutes.
- Gently transfer the fermented dough onto a liberally floured surface, carefully shaping it into a rounded artisan form without excessive manipulation.
- Allow the shaped dough to rest and relax for 30 minutes, developing surface tension and preparing for baking.
- Extract the scorching hot Dutch oven from the oven with extreme caution, delicately placing the dough inside and covering with the lid.
- Bake for precisely 30 minutes, creating an initial steam environment for crust development.
- Remove the lid to expose the bread, continuing baking for an additional 10–15 minutes until the exterior achieves a rich, golden-brown complexion.
- Immediately transfer the freshly baked loaf to a wire cooling rack, permitting complete cooling before slicing to preserve internal moisture and texture.
Notes
- Flour Selection Matters: Choose high-protein bread flour for a chewier, more robust texture that guarantees a perfect artisan-style loaf.
- Fermentation Magic: Longer resting time develops deeper, more complex flavor profiles and improves bread’s digestibility through natural fermentation.
- Moisture Management: Keep dough consistently sticky but not wet, using minimal flour during shaping to maintain the bread’s signature airy crumb.
- Temperature Control: Ensure warm water is between 100-110°F to activate yeast without killing it, creating optimal rising conditions for a light, springy loaf.
- Prep Time: 12–18 hours
- Cook Time: 40–45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg