Italian Bread Recipe
Master the art of homemade Italian Bread with this recipe! Get a soft, fluffy interior and a perfectly chewy, golden crust.
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.
Nutrition
Calories: 168kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 245mgFiber: 1g
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