Crusty Italian Bread Recipe
There's nothing quite like biting into a slice of crusty Italian bread to experience a profound sense of satisfaction.
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups Lukewarm water
- 2 teaspoons Yeast
- 1 tablespoon Brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons Olive oil
- 3 ½ - 4 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 Egg (beaten plus one tablespoon of water to make the egg wash)
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine water, sugar, and yeast. Allow it to stand until foamy and yeast is activated.
- Add olive oil, salt, Italian seasoning, and 3 cups of flour. Use the hook attachment on your stand mixer to mix until a soft dough forms. Add more flour gradually if needed until the dough separates from the bowl's sides.
- Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let the dough rise in a warm, dry place, such as your oven (turned off), for about 30 minutes.
- After the dough has risen, remove it from the bowl and divide it in half to form two loaves. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make a lengthwise slit on each loaf and let them rise again for another 30 minutes.
- Once they have risen, brush the loaves with egg wash and place a roll of parchment paper between them to prevent sticking if they get too close. Place a shallow dish filled with water on the lower oven rack.
- Bake at 350°F for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown.