Simple Artisan Bread Recipe
Homemade Artisan Bread Recipe with only four ingredients.
Artisan bread is crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and great for beginners. There is no kneading and only a few ingredients.
Flour, yeast, water, and salt come together with no fancy equipment or kneading and bring a flavorful bread perfect for sandwiches, dipping in soup, sauce, or toasted. This artisan bread recipe works wonderfully for bread pudding and croutons. Oh and if you have any leftover artisan bread makes the best french toast.
Are you new to bread baking? Have you been wanting to try making homemade bread but need help figuring out where to start? Artisan bread is for you, this simple yet delicious bread is crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, and easy to make with little effort. Whether new to baking bread, or a master you will appreciate this quick and easy artisan bread recipe with four essential ingredients. Why not give it a try? You have nothing to lose, this recipe is a set-it-and-forget-it recipe. Mix four ingredients in a bowl and cover the bowl with a kitchen towel. In about an hour and a half when the dough has doubled in size, you are ready to bake the bread in a dutch oven.
What is a dutch oven? A dutch oven is an oven-safe cooking pot with a flat bottom, thick walls, and a tight-fitting lid. Dutch ovens were typically made of cast iron but today they are also made of cast aluminum or ceramic. A dutch oven can be used on the stovetop and then placed directly in the oven. A good example is braising meat. A roast can be braised on top of the stove in a dutch oven and then placed directly in the oven to finish cooking. A dutch oven is perfect for making artisan bread because heat is distributed more evenly, and the steam created while the bread is baking brings a moist bread and crispy crust.
Link to Dutch oven
What is artisan bread? Artisan bread is a homemade yeast bread with a crispy crust and chewy center. Artisan bread has a similar texture to sourdough bread. Sourdough bread relies on a culture ( a fermentation process) and requires more effort with kneading and rising. Artisan bread is the easiest way to make delicious homemade bread.
The first time I made artisan bread, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. As I was mixing all of the ingredients, I thought, there is no way this is going to work out. It turns out this bread recipe is that easy. If you enjoy a warm loaf of homemade bread with minimal effort Lia Rose Simply Home has you covered.
What You Will Need
Dutch oven
Parchment paper
3 ¾ cups bread flour ( you can use all-purpose flour)
2 ¼ teaspoons ( one packet ) of active dry yeast
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ cups warm water- ½ cup to proof the yeast and the other 1 cup for mixing.
½ teaspoon of sugar to proof the yeast. Sugar is optional it's not required to proof yeast. I add a little sugar to my yeast and water to get it going faster.
What does proofing yeast mean?
What does proofing yeast mean? When you proof yeast you are activating it, waking it up. The sugar, and warmth from the water work together to activate the yeast. Active yeast will foam on the top, if your yeast doesn’t start to bubble, and become foamy turn your oven to 200 degrees and place the bowl of yeast on top of your stove. The active yeast is what allows your bread to rise.
Helpful Tips
Check that your yeast has not expired.
The water for the yeast must be warm. If the water is too hot it will kill the yeast, if the water is cold it will not activate the yeast.
Cover the yeast and water mixture with a kitchen towel.
Keep the yeast in a warm place while it's becoming active.
Be sure to use parchment paper it will prevent the bread from burning and sticking to the pan.
Artisan bread is rustic bread so don't worry about the dough being perfectly round or smooth.
Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning on
top before baking for a burst of flavor!
Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour? Absolutely yes! Bread flour will give the bread a little more chewiness, but all-purpose works just fine.
How many teaspoons of yeast are in one yeast packet? One 1/4 oz yeast packet is equivalent to 2 ¼ teaspoons.
How to make artisan bread
1. In a small bowl, add yeast, ½ teaspoon sugar, and ½ cup warm water. Stir until the yeast is dissolved, cover with a kitchen towel and let the yeast proof in a warm place until it's foamy on top, about 10-15 minutes.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add flour, and salt, stirring to combine with a wooden spoon.
3. Stir in the yeast and water mixture and the remaining one cup of water until the mixture is sticky and no lumps of flour remain.
4. Cover and place in a warm area until doubled in size, about 1½ to 2 hours.
5. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place a large empty Dutch oven with a lid in the oven for at least 30 minutes. Next, uncover your risen dough and using lightly floured hands, reach down one side of the dough to the bottom of the bowl, pull up, and stretch the edge of the dough over the center toward the opposite side. Rotate the bowl and repeat this step on the other side. Pulling, stretching, and folding over the dough about eight times.
6. Transfer the dough onto parchment paper and sprinkle it with flour. Loosely cover with a kitchen towel for 10 minutes. Using a sharp knife or bread lame, cut a slit about ¼-inch deep across the top of the dough.
7. Place the dough with the parchment paper directly into the preheated Dutch oven. Cover with the lid. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake until deeply golden brown, about 13- 15 minutes more. Carefully remove the artisan bread, and place it on a wire rack to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing.
Bread recipes from Lia Rose Simply Home!
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