Italian Bread Recipe - Top Recipes (2024)

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I like nothing in this world better than the smell of freshly baked bread. Even better if it is homemade crusty Italian bread! The amazing smell fills the house and makes me happy by bringing all my family members to the kitchen. Sometimes we can’t even wait for dinner, and we eat it right then and there with melted butter or garlic spread.

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How To Make Crusty Italian Bread?

  1. We will start by proofing the yeast. In the bowl of your stand mixer, mix the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Wait for a few minutes until the mixture becomes foamy. This means the yeast is alive and active.
  2. Add the olive oil, salt, Italian seasoning, and 3 cups of flour to the bowl. Using the dough hook attachment of your stand mixer, mix until a soft dough forms. You may need to add more flour little by little until the dough separates from the sides of the bowl.
  3. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let the dough rise in a warm and dry place like the inside of your oven (make sure the oven is turned off) for 30 minutes.
  4. Once it has risen, add a little flour to your counter and place the dough on it. Divide it in half and form each half into a loaf. Place the loaves in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let them rise, covered with the damp cloth, for another 30 minutes.
  5. When the loaves have risen, brush them with egg wash and bake for 30 minutes or brown. Place the loaves in the middle of the oven and a shallow dish filled with water in the lower rack of the oven.
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What Makes The Bread Crusty?

When we place the shallow dish filled with water in the lower rack, as the water evaporates, it will make the loaves develop a crusty outside. If you do not place the dish with water, the loaves will be soft and not crusty.

You don’t have to bake your own bread to enjoy a crusty bite. Savory Party Bread Recipeis an amazing way to use store-bought bread and turn it into something amazing.

Storing Method

It can be stored uncovered for one day, but if you keep it longer than one day, wrap it with foil or place it in a paper bag.

This will keep the bread fresh for a second day. If the bread lasted for more than 3 days, it would be better to freeze it covered in plastic wrap.

When we do wait for dinner, we share it on our “Italian nights” and eat it with a bowl of pasta. Some of our favorite dinners include Spinach and Ricotta Pasta Bake Recipe or a delicious bowl of Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli. The possibilities are endless! Cheesy Taco Pasta, even though isn’t classic Italian pasta, is my kid’s favorite.

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Crusty Italian Bread Recipe

Yield: 2 LARGE LOAVES- 12 slices

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

There's nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread!

Ingredients

  • 1 ⅓ cups lukewarm water
  • 2 teaspoons yeast
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 3 ½ - 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 egg, beaten plus one tablespoon of water to make the egg wash

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the water, sugar, and yeast. Let it stand until it becomes foamy and the yeast is activated
  2. Add the olive oil, salt, Italian seasoning, and 3 cups of flour. Using the hook attachment of your stand mixer, mix until a soft dough is formed. You may need to add more flour, but do it little by little just until the dough forms and separates from the side of the bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth.
  3. Let the dough rise for about 30 minutes in a warm dry place like your oven (make sure it is turned off). After the dough has risen, take it out of the bowl, divide it in half and form two loaves. Place them in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut a slit all along the length of each loaf and let them rise again for another 30 minutes
  4. Once they have risen, brush the loaves with egg wash and place a roll made with parchment paper between them to prevent them from sticking to each other if they grow to be too close together. Place a shallow dish filled with water in the lower rack of the oven, and bake them at 350 F for 30 minutes or until brown.
Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 131Total Fat: 1gCarbohydrates: 28.5gProtein: 3.7g

Did you make this recipe?

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Italian Bread Recipe - Top Recipes (4)

Italian Bread Recipe - Top Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular Italian bread? ›

Perhaps the most well-known and popular Italian bread, ciabatta is a slipper-shaped bread. It has a unique, almost plasticity, texture, which makes it possible to do practically anything with this bread.

Why is my homemade Italian bread so dense? ›

A “tight crumb” aka small holes in the interior of your bread can be the result of different factors: under-fermenting, over-fermenting, and a lack of gluten development.

What makes Italian bread so good? ›

Artisanal Craftsmanship: Italian bread is often produced by skilled artisans who follow traditional methods passed down through generations. These bakers have a deep understanding of the dough, fermentation, and baking techniques, resulting in consistently excellent bread.

What makes Italian bread different from regular bread? ›

Italian bread often contains a bit of milk or olive oil, and sometimes a bit of sugar. French bread tends to be longer and narrower. Italian bread loaves tend to be shorter and plumper. French bread tends to be hard and crusty on the outside, with a light and soft crumb.

What is the most delicious bread in the world? ›

World's best breads: the list of winners
  • Butter garlic naan (India)
  • Nan-e barbari (Iran)
  • Pan de yuca (Colombia)
  • Focaccia di Recco col formaggio (Italy)
  • Baguette (France)
  • Naan (India)
  • Piadina Romagnola (Italy)
  • Tarte flambée (France)
Oct 4, 2023

What is the fluffy Italian bread called? ›

Focaccia is ½" to 1" thick with a light crust on the top and bottom. It's often described as "flatbread" or "Italian flat bread," but unlike the flat bread we're used to, it isn't flat at all, but thick and fluffy. The "flat" term in question simply refers to the pan in which it's baked compared to other breads.

What is the secret to a soft and fluffy bread? ›

For soft and fluffy bread, I recommend using bread flour. This type of flour has a higher protein content, which will help your bread rise better and have a lighter texture. If you don't have bread flour on hand, you can also use all-purpose flour, but your bread may not be quite as fluffy.

What is the best flour for bread? ›

While bread flour is the best option, it can sometimes be used if you don't have bread flour. “Check the protein content,” advises Chef Jürgen, since it can vary from brand to brand, and an all-purpose flour that contains protein on the higher end of the range, 12 to 13 percent, will produce a better outcome.

Does letting bread rise longer make it fluffier? ›

Does Rising Bread Affect Its Texture? For a fluffy bread texture, the key is to let the bread rise long enough.

What is artisan Italian bread? ›

Characteristics of Artisan Bread

The bread is handmade. It's created in small quantities rather than mass-produced in a factory. The chef uses traditional techniques instead of machines to make it. It does not contain preservatives.

What is the difference between ciabatta and Italian bread? ›

The main difference between these two loaves of bread comes down to the hydration levels. Ciabatta is baked with a much higher hydration level, making the holes within the dough much bigger than a baguette. Ciabatta is also baked with a much stronger flour, which has a more delicate and sweet taste.

Is French or Italian bread better? ›

French loaves are usually prepared using electric convection deck ovens. This helps create a softer and less chewy texture as compared to Italian bread loaves. It also makes them perfect for sandwiches. If you've never tried a baguette sandwich before, you're missing out!

What is better French bread or Italian bread? ›

French bread, which is often slightly sweeter in taste, is traditionally paired with sweeter foods; it's often eaten for breakfast and consumed with chocolate and fruity jams. Italian bread is more savory by nature and thus is accompanied with more savory ingredients like olive oil, tomatoes, and cheese.

What kind of bread do Italian people eat? ›

Then, these are the three types of Italian bread you should taste while there: Pane Cafone (great for bruschetta), Pane Tortano, and Pagnotta all'olio.

What is the national bread of Italy? ›

focaccia, traditional Italian bread with many variations. A precursor of pizza, focaccia is one of Italy's most ancient breads. It is thought to have originated with the Etruscans. The earliest focaccia were unleavened flatbreads made from flour, water, and salt.

What bread is used in Italy? ›

While different types exist in various regions of the country, ciabatta has become almost synonymous with sandwich bread across Italy. The well-seasoned soft bread is also popular for dipping into pasta sauce.

What kind of bread do Italians eat for breakfast? ›

If dining at home, a common Italian breakfast food is a kind of rusk. Like a very very crunchy slice of toast, in texture more similar to a hard cookie, it may be worth searching online for “fette biscottate” as they are a very particular Italian breakfast food.

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