The Very Best Italian Bread!

May 10, 2023May 10, 20230 2
The Very Best Italian Bread with Crusty Crust and Soft Fluffy Centre
in Bread

Prep

15 min

Cook

35 min

Ready In

2h 30min

Level

Easy

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
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Ingredients

4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 1/3 cups warm water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 package active dry yeast
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons cornmeal

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
16
Calories
152
Sugar
1g
Fat
1g
Italian bread, also known as Pane Italiano, is a classic bread with a rustic look and delicious taste. It has a chewy texture with big holes and a golden crust. The bread is perfect to accompany a hearty bowl of soup or stew, or even just dip into olive oil and balsamic vinegar. This recipe produces a bread that smells and tastes as good as it looks, especially when freshly baked. It's a great recipe to perfect for bread lovers and beginners alike!

Instructions

1.In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and brown sugar in the warm water and let sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
2.Stir in the salt, olive oil, and 2 cups of the flour until the mixture forms a shaggy dough.
3.Knead in the remaining flour a little at a time until the dough comes together in a smooth and elastic ball, about 10 minutes using a stand mixer or 15 by hand.
4.Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
5.Punch down the dough and shape into 2 loaves on a cornmeal-dusted baking sheet.
6.Cover and let rise again for 30 minutes.
7.Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
8.Whisk the egg and water together and brush over the loaves.
9.Sprinkle the remaining cornmeal on top.
10.Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on.
11.Cool before slicing and devouring!

PROS

This bread recipe is easy to make and produces a classic Italian loaf that is crusty on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

It can be eaten as a side dish to any meal or used as sandwich bread.

It tastes as good as any bakery-bought bread.

CONS

The rising time required to make this bread can be a bit long, around 2 hours in total, but it’s worth it for the final result.

Also, as with any homemade bread recipe, it may take some practice to perfect the texture and shape of the loaves.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

Homemade bread made with simple ingredients offers health benefits such as being freshly made, lower in sodium, and free from preservatives and artificial ingredients.
It also has fiber and carbohydrates that give energy to the body and aid digestion.

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