Easy Rustic Bread (Printable)

Crusty, chewy artisan bread made simple. Just flour, water, yeast and salt create a beautiful European-style loaf perfect for any meal.

# What's Needed:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/4 cups bread flour (plus extra for dusting)
02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
03 - 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
04 - 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water

→ Optional for Dusting

05 - 1 tablespoon cornmeal or semolina

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, combine bread flour, salt, and instant yeast. Mix well to distribute evenly.
02 - Add lukewarm water and stir with a wooden spoon or your hands until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
03 - Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let rise at room temperature for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
04 - Lightly flour a work surface. Turn out the dough and shape it into a rough ball, folding the edges underneath to create tension.
05 - Place the dough seam-side down on parchment paper dusted with flour or cornmeal. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
06 - Preheat oven to 450°F. If using a Dutch oven, place it empty in the oven during preheating.
07 - Carefully transfer the dough with parchment into the hot Dutch oven or onto a baking sheet.
08 - Use a sharp knife to make a shallow slash across the top of the loaf to allow for expansion during baking.
09 - Cover with Dutch oven lid and bake for 25 minutes to create initial oven spring.
10 - Remove the lid and bake for another 15 minutes, or until crust is deep golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when tapped on bottom.
11 - Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before slicing to preserve texture.

# Tips for Success:

01 -
  • You need zero bread making experience to get an artisan style loaf that impresses everyone
  • The dough is incredibly forgiving and practically bakes itself while you do other things
02 -
  • A Dutch oven creates steam that gives you that professional bakery crust at home
  • The dough should look messy and shaggy at first, do not keep adding flour trying to make it smooth
03 -
  • Let the bread cool completely before slicing to prevent the inside from getting gummy
  • Place a tray of ice cubes in the bottom of your oven if not using a Dutch oven

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