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Classic Italian Bread

Classic Italian Bread prepared dish

This classic italian bread features a crispy crust and a soft, airy interior, making it perfect for sandwiches or serving alongside your favorite pasta dishes. With simple ingredients and straightforward techniques, you can enjoy the delightful aroma of freshly baked bread in your home. Ideal for any occasion, this bread is sure to impress family and friends!

This recipe is italian style, lunch, scaled for 8 servings, with 20 min prep and 30 min cook.

Prep: 20 min · Cook: 30 min · Total: 50 min · Serves: 8

Quick cooking notes

  • Core ingredients include water, active dry yeast, all-purpose flour, salt.
  • Follow all 9 steps in order for the intended texture and doneness.
  • Ingredient quantities listed below are for 8 servings.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups water (warm)
  • 2 tbsp active dry yeast
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water and active dry yeast, allowing it to sit for about 5 minutes until foamy.
  2. Add the olive oil, salt, and all-purpose flour to the yeast mixture, stirring until a dough begins to form.
  3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
  4. Place the kneaded dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
  5. Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C) and place a baking stone or baking sheet inside to heat.
  6. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and shape it into a round loaf or divide it into smaller portions.
  7. Let the shaped dough rest for another 30 minutes while the oven continues to heat.
  8. Carefully transfer the dough onto the hot baking stone or sheet, and bake for 25-30 minutes until the crust is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
  9. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Nutrition (per serving)

  • Calories: 180
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Fat: 3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Sodium: 400 mg

Nutrition values are estimates based on stored ingredient totals and serving size.

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