Basic Italian Bread Recipe
Overview:
This Basic Italian Bread recipe is a versatile foundation for creating delicious homemade bread. With just a few simple ingredients and a bit of patience, you can enjoy the rustic flavors of Italy right in your own kitchen. Plus, with the option to customize by adding herbs or sun-dried tomatoes, you can elevate this bread into an extra tasty treat.
Recipe Information:
- Cook Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Prep Time: 8 hours (includes time to make the starter and 2 rises)
- Total Time: 9 hours and 10 minutes
- Servings: 1 Large loaf
- Aggregated Rating: 5 stars (based on 4 reviews)
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 3211.8
- Fat Content: 9g
- Saturated Fat Content: 1.4g
- Cholesterol Content: 0mg
- Sodium Content: 4687.2mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 671.2g
- Fiber Content: 25.5g
- Sugar Content: 2.4g
- Protein Content: 93.9g
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup active dry yeast
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 cups water (for bread)
- 1 cup active dry yeast (for bread)
- 5-6 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (for bread)
- 2 teaspoons salt
Instructions:
Biga (Starter):
- Mix the yeast and water together, then gradually add the flour, stirring well.
- Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for up to 6 hours, or refrigerate overnight.
Bread:
- In a large bowl, place 1 cup of water and sprinkle the yeast over it. Mix well and let it sit for 10 minutes until it becomes bubbly.
- Add the biga, flour, and salt to the bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon or mix with your hands until everything is well combined. The dough will be fairly wet and sticky at this point.
- Cover the bowl and let the dough stand in a warm spot for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours until it doubles in volume.
- Punch down the dough, folding it over on itself two or three times. Cover it again and let it rise once more until doubled, which should take about 1 hour.
- If you plan to bake the bread the following day, refrigerate the dough at this point and leave it overnight.
- Turn out the dough onto a floured baking sheet. Shape it into one large loaf or two smaller ones, using extra flour as needed to prevent sticking. Slash the tops of the loaves with a serrated knife or razor just before baking.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and place a casserole dish filled with boiling water on the lower rack.
- Bake the bread for 30 minutes, then rotate the baking sheet and reduce the heat to 300°F (150°C). Continue baking for another 30-45 minutes until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Allow the bread to cool to room temperature before serving.
Baking Tips:
- For a variation, try using a baguette pan to make long, thin loaves, or spread the dough on a well-oiled cookie sheet to make focaccia.
- Experiment with different flavor additions, such as roasted garlic & basil, rosemary, or olive bread. Instructions for roasting garlic are provided below.
Variations:
Roasted Garlic & Basil Bread:
- Coarsely chop 1-2 heads of roasted garlic and add them to the flour, along with about 1 teaspoon of crushed dried basil.
Rosemary Bread:
- Add 4 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh rosemary to the flour. Brush the loaves with water and sprinkle with coarse sea salt just before baking.
Olive Bread:
- Add 12 ounces of flavorful, pitted olives, coarsely chopped, to the flour.
Roasting Garlic:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Peel away the outer layers of skin from the garlic bulbs, leaving enough to hold the bulbs intact. Trim about 1/2 inch off the tops of the bulbs to expose the cloves.
- Place the bulbs, stem ends down, on a piece of foil. Drizzle each bulb with 2 teaspoons of olive or vegetable oil, then wrap them securely in the foil.
- Transfer the foil-wrapped bulbs to a pie plate or shallow baking pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the garlic is tender when pierced with a toothpick or fork.
- Allow the roasted garlic to cool slightly, then gently squeeze the cloves out of the bulbs. One ounce of roasted garlic equals about 1 tablespoon of mashed garlic.
By following these detailed instructions, you can create a delectable Basic Italian Bread that’s sure to impress your family and friends. Enjoy the process of bread making and savor the delicious results!
