Italian bread is known for its crisp, golden crust and soft, airy interior, making it a staple at any Italian table. This bread is perfect for soaking up rich sauces, pairing with cheeses, or simply enjoying with a drizzle of olive oil. Its simple ingredients and time-honored techniques create a deliciously satisfying loaf every time.
Italian Bread
Ingredients
- 1/4 ounce active dry yeast
- 2 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- 5-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in remaining flour to form a soft dough.
- Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
- Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Shape into two 12-in.-long loaves; taper ends. Place each loaf seam side down on parchment-lined baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 450°. Sprinkle loaves with additional flour. With a sharp knife, make three 1/2-in. deep slashes across top of each loaf. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
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