Golden crust, soft inside, and made with love
Few things in life are as satisfying as pulling a fresh, homemade loaf of bread out of the oven. The crackling crust, the warm aroma filling your kitchen, and the joy of slicing into something you made with your own hands—this is real comfort food. The bread in your photo is a beautiful example of rustic, no-fuss artisan bread, and the best part? You don’t need special skills or equipment to make it.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know, from why this bread works so well to a clear, step-by-step method anyone can follow.
🌾 Why This Homemade Bread Is So Special
This type of bread is often called rustic artisan bread or Dutch oven bread, and it has several irresistible qualities:
- A deep golden, crispy crust
- A soft, chewy interior with natural air pockets
- A round shape formed without complicated shaping
- Made with simple, natural ingredients
The secret lies in slow fermentation and steam baking, which allow the dough to develop flavor and structure naturally.
🧺 Ingredients (Simple & Honest)
You only need 4 basic ingredients:
- 500 g all-purpose or bread flour (about 4 cups)
- 375 ml warm water (1½ cups)
- 7 g dry yeast (2 teaspoons)
- 10 g salt (1½ teaspoons)
👉 Optional: 1 tablespoon olive oil for a slightly softer crumb
🍞 Step-by-Step: How to Make This Homemade Bread
🕒 Step 1: Mix the Dough (5 minutes)
In a large bowl:
- Add the flour and salt
- In a separate cup, dissolve the yeast in warm water
- Pour the water into the flour
- Mix with a spoon or your hand until a sticky dough forms
💡 Don’t knead too much—rough and sticky is perfect.
🕰️ Step 2: First Rise (1–2 hours)
- Cover the bowl with a clean towel or plastic wrap
- Let it rise at room temperature until doubled in size
The dough should look bubbly and alive.
✋ Step 3: Gentle Shaping (2 minutes)
- Lightly flour your work surface
- Turn the dough out gently
- Fold the edges toward the center a few times
- Shape into a loose round loaf
⚠️ Do not punch the dough—those air bubbles are precious!
🔥 Step 4: Preheat the Oven & Pot
- Place a cast iron pot or oven-safe pot with lid in the oven
- Preheat to 230°C (450°F) for at least 30 minutes
This step creates the steam needed for a crispy crust.
🥖 Step 5: Bake the Bread
- Carefully remove the hot pot
- Place the dough inside (use parchment paper if needed)
- Cover with the lid
Bake:
- 30 minutes with lid ON
- 15–20 minutes with lid OFF until golden brown
❄️ Step 6: Cool (Very Important!)
- Remove bread and let it cool on a rack for at least 30 minutes
Cutting too early releases steam and affects texture.
🔍 What Makes This Bread Work? (The Science)
TO CONTINUE READING THE RECIPE PLEASE SEE PAGE 2
