Discover the easy way to prepare a deliciously soft and fluffy bread with a chewy crust.
Italian bread has always been one of my favorites. This Italian bread recipe will give you everything you want in this bread—a soft, fluffy, tender interior surrounded by a chewy, firm, yet not hard crust. Bread lovers will undoubtedly find it irresistible.
I remember fondly the days when I had a bread machine to do the work of baking bread for me. And, while I rarely bake bread these days, the memories are clear in my head. A more recent memory is of my daughter using her new machine, sending photos of the dough rising and pushing the top open. It reminded me of that classic “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy and Ethel baked their own bread and churned butter from scratch. It is, to this day, one of my top three episodes.
One of the great things about making bread when you have young children at home is that you can use this as an opportunity to teach them about the interaction between yeast and sugar. Be forewarned, I don’t recommend telling little ones that yeast are tiny living critters that eat sugar, as the internet might mention. Personally, that definition scares me into not wanting to eat bread. I’d leave it that yeast creates a chemical reaction called fermentation that produces gas that makes the bread rise. As your children get older, you can go into more detailed explanations.
Once your dough is ready for rolling and baking, you can use it to make a variety of bread shapes, such as dinner rolls, breadsticks, and baguettes. Make garlic knots by twisting small dough balls and brushing them with garlic butter before baking. For the little ones, the fun is watching the dough double in size. You can even let them help form the dough before baking and brush on the egg wash. They can also sprinkle on any toppings for the loaf. I think it’s fun to give them a small piece of dough to make their own tiny loaves. Just remember that smaller loaves will take less baking time than a single large loaf.
Flavor your Italian bread with these additions
Although this Italian bread recipe is perfect as is and will make a delicious, fluffy loaf with an irresistible crust, even perfection can be improved on, because nothing is ever 100% perfect. Whether you want to add flavoring to the crusty exterior or the tender interior, I have plenty of superb suggestions for you.
- Crust additions: The first thought that typically comes to mind when making bread is to add sesame seeds to the surface. Poppy seeds are another tasty option. However, my favorite topping is sunflower seeds for added texture and taste. You can also chop walnuts and sprinkle them on the exterior of your loaf. Another option is to add herbs to the outside of the loaf. Fresh thyme, rosemary, and oregano are excellent options. You can also sprinkle some garlic or onion powder on the outside, although I like to add that to the dough. Remember to use your egg wash to help the toppings stick to the bread and to produce that delectable golden hue.
- Add-ins: I love to mix a little garlic or onion powder (or both) into the dough. Be careful not to overdo it; you only want to enhance the bread’s flavor delicately. Finely chopped fresh herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and dill can be used to flavor the dough. You can also use dried herbs in their place. A bit of oregano, garlic, and basil makes for a deliciously aromatic Italian bread.
How do I store leftovers?
Leftovers from this Italian bread recipe can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. It is best to use a bread box or cover the unsliced loaf with a tea towel until ready to serve. You can also freeze cooled bread in a freezer-safe container or zippered bag for up to 3 months. Defrost the bread overnight in the refrigerator and gently warm it in a 350°F oven before serving. If you want to remove only a few slices from the freezer, slice the loaf as desired, wrap the slices in freezer wrap, and place them in an airtight container. Defrost as mentioned above.
Serving suggestions
This Italian bread recipe is an excellent accompaniment to many meals and ideal for dipping into a bowl of Creamy Vegetable Soup, Irish Potato Soup, or Tortellini Soup. Enjoy a buttered slice of bread with Swedish Meatball Pasta, Shrimp Marinara Pasta, Spicy Rigatoni, or this Eggplant Parmesan Recipe. You can also use it to make a sandwich stuffed with Easy Canned Salmon Salad or Tuna Patties.
Italian Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup warm water about 110°F
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 3 teaspoons granulated sugar divided
- 1 cup hot water 115-118°F
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 1/4 cups bread flour divided
- Egg wash 1 beaten egg with a splash of water, for brushing
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix warm water, active dry yeast, and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it becomes foamy.
- In a large bowl, mix 1 cup hot water, 2 teaspoons sugar, the salt, and olive oil. Stir in 1 1/2 cups bread flour.
- Then, add the foamy yeast mixture and gradually incorporate the rest of the flour until a sticky dough develops. If it’s too sticky, dust your hands with flour to handle it more easily. Avoid adding extra flour to the dough.
- Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into a long loaf by rolling it and tucking the ends under. Place the shaped dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover, and let rise for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Score the loaf and brush it with egg wash. Bake the bread for 20 to 25 minutes until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack (approximately 1 hour) before slicing.
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