Rustic Italian Crusty Bread Recipe (2 Hr) for Perfect Loaf
A simple and quick recipe for making rustic Italian crusty bread that results in a bakery-style loaf in just 2 hours.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 1 loaf
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
- Add flour and salt to the yeast mixture and mix until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and shape it into a loaf.
- Place the loaf on a baking sheet and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
- Score the top of the loaf with a sharp knife and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
- Let the bread cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
- For a crustier loaf, place a pan of water in the oven while baking.
- Experiment with adding herbs or garlic for extra flavor.
- Store leftover bread in a paper bag to maintain crustiness.