Make this crusty artisan bread at home, even if you’ve never baked bread or worked with yeast before. There is no kneading or intricate shaping required, only five ingredients are needed, and the majority of the work can be done while you relax. Bread masters will enjoy this recipe as well because it delivers on flavor, a little crunchy and incredibly chewy exterior, and those trademark soft holes within like ciabatta or French bread.
Continue reading for the recipe.
Only 5 Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Water
- Kosher salt
- Granular yeast
- Black pepper
How to Make Homemade Artisan Bread: Easy Steps
In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, salt, and pepper to begin making your artisan bread. Make sure all of the ingredients are mixed in by whisking them together.
If you want your bread to rise correctly, you need to activate the yeast by using warm water.
Then, while continuing to stir, gradually add the warm water. Having a digital thermometer on hand to check the temperature of your water is an invaluable tool in this situation.
Because yeast is sensitive to heat, your homemade bread will not rise if the water is too hot. Water that is too cool will prevent the yeast from rising.
The optimal range for the water’s temperature is between 100 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
No Kneading Required
The flour will absorb the water if you just stir it in. The dough must not be overworked. The dough should come together, but it doesn’t have to be velvety smooth.
Raise the dough up and out of the basin. When you’re done, wipe out the bowl and coat the inside and bottom with some virgin olive oil.
Then, return the dough to the bowl and turn it over to ensure that the entire ball is coated in oil. The artisan bread won’t get stuck to the pan as it rises thanks to this.
Once the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the refrigerator and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. This will take approximately 1-2 hours.
Make a large ball with the dough and set it on a baking sheet or stone that has been coated with flour. Flour the dough’s outer border to prevent it from sticking.
Allow it to rest for 30 minutes while covered with a clean towel.
Prepare the oven by preheating it and then setting a baking dish containing water on the bottom rack.
This will help the bread retain moisture while baking and ensure that it bakes uniformly throughout.
Make a few slashes in the top of the loaf with a sharp knife just before baking.
Bake until a hollow sound is made when you tap the bread (30-35 minutes). Cover and keep at room temperature.
