Description
This simple and hearty rustic bread has a crispy, golden crust and soft, fluffy interior. With just a few ingredients and minimal hands-on time, you can enjoy homemade bread that’s perfect for any meal. No bread pan required!
Ingredients
3 cups warm water
2 ¼ teaspoons (1 package) active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
6 cups (750 g) all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for about 10 minutes, until the mixture becomes bubbly and frothy.
- Add the flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix until combined into a soft dough. The dough should be slightly sticky but manageable. If it’s too sticky to handle, add ¼ cup of flour at a time until you can work with it.
- Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel. Let it rise for 1-3 hours, or until doubled in size. If you’re short on time, a 30-60 minute rise will still yield good results, but the longer the rise, the better the flavor.
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Place a pizza stone or a flipped-over baking sheet in the oven to heat up. Fill a baking dish with 2 inches of water and place it on the bottom rack to create steam, which will help develop the crispy crust.
- Sprinkle flour on your counter and turn out the dough. Fold the dough onto itself, then divide it into two equal pieces. Shape each portion into a ball without overhandling it. If the dough is too sticky, add a little flour as needed.
- Using a sharp knife, cut an X shape on top of each dough ball. Place the shaped dough onto a lightly floured baking pan.
- Carefully transfer the pan with the dough onto the preheated pizza stone or flipped baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Let the bread cool for at least an hour before slicing to prevent it from deflating.
Notes
- Add Herbs: Incorporate rosemary, thyme, or oregano into the dough for an aromatic twist.
- Cheese Lover’s Bread: Add shredded cheese (like cheddar or parmesan) into the dough for a cheesy surprise.
- Olives or Garlic: Fold in chopped olives or roasted garlic for an added savory flavor.
- Whole Wheat Option: Use a mix of whole wheat and all-purpose flour for a heartier loaf.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (including rising time)
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 330mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
