Rustic Italian Crusty Bread
Indulge in the comforting aroma and satisfying texture of homemade Rustic Italian Crusty Bread. This delightful recipe requires no kneading, making it perfect for beginners or anyone short on time. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a crusty loaf that’s golden on the outside and soft on the inside. It’s versatile enough to accompany soups, serve as a base for bruschetta, or simply be enjoyed with olive oil. In under three hours, you’ll have fresh bread that not only enhances your meals but also brings friends and family together around the kitchen table.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-45 minutes
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: Approximately 12 servings 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 3.25 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for dusting)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1.5 cups warm water
- 2 tsp instant yeast (or active dry yeast)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, and yeast.
- Pour in warm water and mix until a sticky dough forms.
- Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 2-3 hours until doubled in size.
- Sprinkle flour on your counter, then gently shape the dough into a round loaf without kneading.
- Carve an X on top of the loaf and transfer it to a floured pizza peel or parchment paper.
- Preheat your oven to 450°F with a pizza stone inside for 45 minutes, adding an oven-proof bowl of water to create steam.
- Bake the loaf for 30-45 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.
- Cool completely on a rack before slicing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (50g)
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 0.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg