Description
An easy no-knead Rustic Italian Crusty Bread Recipe perfect for beginners, requiring just a few ingredients and yielding a golden, crispy artisan loaf.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3.25 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1.5 cups warm water
- 2 tsp instant yeast (or active dry yeast)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and yeast using a spatula or mixer paddle until well mixed.
- Slowly pour in warm water while mixing until a sticky dough forms. It will be wet and shaggy.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a tea towel. Let the dough rise at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours until doubled in size.
- Lightly flour your counter and hands. Turn out the dough and gently fold it into a round shape without kneading.
- Place dough on floured parchment or peel. Let it rest while you preheat the oven to 450°F with a pizza stone or baking sheet inside.
- Place an oven-safe bowl with 2 inches of water on the lower rack to create steam.
- Carefully slide the dough onto the hot stone or sheet and bake for 30–45 minutes until golden brown and crusty.
- Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- The dough is supposed to be sticky; don’t add too much flour.
- If the top browns too fast, tent it with foil during the final baking minutes.
- Don’t skip the steam—it’s key for a crispy crust.
- No pizza stone? Use an inverted baking sheet instead.
- Check your parchment paper’s max temp if using it in a hot oven.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Baked Goods
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 loaf)
- Calories: 195
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 295mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg