Description
This Crusty Italian Bread recipe yields two delicious, soft on the inside and crispy on the outside loaves made with simple ingredients including Italian seasoning for extra flavor. The dough is kneaded with a stand mixer, allowed to rise twice for optimum texture, and baked in the oven with steam to achieve a perfect crust.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups lukewarm water
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 egg (beaten plus 1 tablespoon water for egg wash)
Dry Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons yeast
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 3 ½ - 4 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine lukewarm water, brown sugar, and yeast. Let it stand for about 5-10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating that the yeast is activated.
- Prepare Dough: Add olive oil, salt, Italian seasoning, and 3 cups of flour to the yeast mixture. Using the dough hook attachment, mix until a soft dough forms. Gradually add remaining flour little by little just until the dough pulls away from the bowl sides but remains soft. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth.
- First Rise: Let the dough rise in a warm, dry place such as an unheated oven for about 30 minutes until it has expanded in size.
- Shape Loaves: Remove the dough from the bowl and divide it into two equal parts. Shape each into a loaf, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and score a slit along the length of each loaf.
- Second Rise: Allow the loaves to rise again for an additional 30 minutes until puffy.
- Prepare for Baking: Brush the loaves with the egg wash made from beaten egg and water. Place a roll made from parchment paper between the two loaves on the baking sheet to prevent sticking if they expand further.
- Bake: Place a shallow dish with water on the lower rack of the oven to create steam. Bake the loaves in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 30 minutes or until they develop a brown, crusty exterior.
Notes
- Make sure the water used to activate yeast is lukewarm to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
- Adding steam during baking helps develop a crisp crust.
- The second rise is important for light and airy bread texture.
- Adjust flour quantity slightly if dough feels too sticky or dry.
- Allow bread to cool completely before slicing for best texture.
