the best crusty bread (dutch oven)
Since I retired in 2010, I have been in search of the perfect crusty bread recipe. You know, the kind you find in great Italian restaurants that have a gorgeous crackly crust and a chewy inside, perfect for dipping in olive oil? I actually don't remember where I found it. It was an adaptation from a site called Simply So Good, except I used bread flour instead of all-purpose flour.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
The next time you want warm crusty bread, give this recipe a try. The outside is crisp while the inside stays firm and moist. To get the true crust effect, start the dough the night before. The aroma of the fresh bread baking in the Dutch oven will make the house smell wonderful. When you open the Dutch oven, there's the perfect loaf of bread. This is a very easy bread recipe that can be customized with your favorite herbs too.
Ingredients
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 cups water, warm
How To Make the best crusty bread (dutch oven)
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Step 1Whisk flour, yeast, and salt in a 3-4 quart bowl with a tight-fitting lid. I like to use my trusty Tupperware. If you don't have a bowl with a lid, use plastic wrap on a bowl. -
Step 2Add the water and stir with a wooden spoon until the dough is mixed well.
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Step 3The dough will be quite sticky and shaggy looking, but that's OK.
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Step 4Cover the bowl and set aside for 12-18 hours (up to 24 overnight is fine).
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Step 5Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Place a cast-iron Dutch oven with the lid into the oven while preheating and heat the pot/lid for 30 minutes.
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Step 6Meanwhile, scrape the risen dough from the bowl onto a heavily floured surface. The dough will still be very sticky.
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Step 7With floured hands, gently shape the dough into a round loaf, making sure there's enough flour on the surface so the dough doesn't stick. Let the dough just sit there until your pot is preheated.
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Step 8Take the hot pot from the oven and gently place the dough into the pot.
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Step 9Cover with the lid and return to the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
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Step 10Remove the lid at that time and return the pot to the oven for another 10-15 minutes.
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Step 11Gently shake the loaf onto a cooling rack and enjoy the beautiful aroma. Give it a chance to cool before cutting into the loaf.
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https://youtu.be/9ut_N92DsY0
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