Description
Artisan bread showcases rustic simplicity with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor. Handcrafted with traditional techniques, this European-style loaf connects home bakers to centuries of bread-making heritage you can savor slice by slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups (395 grams) all-purpose flour or bread flour
- 1.5 cups warm water at a temperature of 105°F
Flavoring:
- ½ tablespoon kosher salt
Leavening Agent:
- ¼ ounce (2 ¼ teaspoons) instant or active dry yeast packet
Instructions
- Gather a spacious mixing vessel and combine organic wheat flour, sea salt, and active dry yeast, ensuring uniform distribution of ingredients.
- Carefully introduce lukewarm water (105°F or 40.5°C) into the dry mixture, maintaining a precise temperature to activate yeast without compromising its delicate structure.
- Utilize a specialized dough whisk or robust wooden utensil to integrate ingredients, creating a cohesive yet slightly viscous texture that remains soft and malleable.
- Envelop the mixing bowl with a breathable kitchen towel or perforated plastic wrap, allowing the dough to ferment and develop complex flavors for 2-10 hours at ambient room temperature.
- Moisten hands with cool water before transferring the elastic dough onto a lightly dusted work surface, preventing excessive adherence.
- Gently manipulate the dough’s periphery, folding edges inward to create a rounded silhouette without aggressive compression, forming either a singular circular loaf or divided smaller portions.
- Position shaped dough onto parchment paper, delicately sprinkling additional flour across its surface and creating artistic diagonal incisions using a razor-sharp bread knife.
- Allow the formed loaf a secondary proofing period of approximately 25-35 minutes, enabling additional volume expansion and structural refinement.
- Simultaneously activate oven to 450°F (232°C), strategically positioning a heavyweight ceramic baking stone or cast-iron Dutch oven to generate intense thermal environment.
- Meticulously transfer parchment-laden dough into preheated cooking vessel, ensuring minimal heat dissipation during introduction.
- Enhance crust development by introducing moisture through dispersing five ice cubes or pouring minimal hot water into a secondary pan, generating instantaneous steam.
- Monitor baking progression, rotating vessel midway to guarantee uniform golden-brown coloration across entire surface.
- Extract bread after 25-30 minutes, confirming doneness through resonant hollow sound when tapping bottom crust.
- Transfer artisan creation onto cooling rack, permitting complete temperature equilibration for minimally 45 minutes before slicing.
- Store remaining bread within breathable paper container, preserving textural integrity and preventing premature staleness.
Notes
- Always use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the most delectable artisan bread experience.
- Fermentation transforms simple ingredients into a complex, tangy flavor profile that elevates homemade bread.
- Water temperature matters critically; lukewarm liquid between 100-110°F activates yeast without killing its delicate microorganisms.
- Letting dough rest overnight develops deeper, more nuanced taste and improves overall texture and crumb structure.
- Steam during baking creates that professional bakery-style crispy, golden crust that makes every slice irresistible.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: European
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 130 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg