Italian Bread

Source/Author: Lu

Fresh from the oven: golden rustic Italian bread with a chewy crumb and crackling crust. Made with love, flour, and just the right touch of olive oil—perfect for pairing, sharing, and savoring.

Ingredients:

• sugar	1 tablespoon
• salt	1 1/2 teaspoons
• water	1 1/2 cups
• All-purpose flour	4 cups
• active dry yeast	2 1/4 teaspoons
•  olive oil	1 tablespoon
•  olive oil (optional, for topping)	1 tablespoon
• sesame seeds (optional, for sprinkling)	to taste

1. Heat the water to 110 F or 45 C.

2. In a small bowl, combine warm water, sugar and yeast. Stir gently, cover with clean kitchen towel and let it sit for 10-15 minutes until the mixture become foamy.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Stir until the dough begins to come together.

4. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. (Alternatively, use a stand mixer with a dough hook for 5-6 minutes).

5. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning it to coat the surface with oil. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.

6. Punch down the dough and transfer it to a floured surface. Shape the dough into a long loaf or divide it into two small loaves.

7. Place the shaped dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

8. Cover the shaped dough with a damp cloth and let it rise for 40 min.

9. Preheat oven to 400 F(200 C).

10. Optionally: brush the top of loaf with olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

11. Use a sharp knife to make 2-3 shallow slashes diagonally across the top of the loaf.

12. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.

13. Allow the bread to cool before slicing.