Looking for a crusty loaf of delicious white Italian bread? This recipe is for you. You mix, rise and bake this bread in your Dutch oven. It could not be any easier and the results are spectacular. Crusty and chewy on the outside, soft and delicious on the inside. Perfect to serve along side any meal, perfect for sandwiches, makes delicious French toast, and makes outstanding croutons. You must try the first piece, warm from the oven spread with butter, so good! Even if you are not a bread baker, this recipe is so easy, you must try it.
Dutch Oven Italian Bread
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast or one packet of yeast
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon cornmeal
Instructions
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Dissolve honey in the warm water, add yeast, stir and let sit until it bubbles and foams. That will take 5 – 10 minutes. In your Dutch oven combine the flour and the salt. Add the yeast mixture and stir until combined and there are no dry particles of flour. The dough will be sticky. Put the lid on the pot and let it rise for 3 hours. After three hours, turn out the dough onto a floured board, shape into a rough ball and cover. Rinse out and dry your Dutch oven if there are any dough pieces or flour left in it. Place the Dutch oven, covered, in your oven and preheat oven to 450 degrees. When the oven has reached 450 degrees, sprinkle the cornmeal in the Dutch oven and place the ball dough in the preheated Dutch oven. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 400 degrees, remove cover and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack.