This is a very easy bread to make without any kneading Bake in a Dutch oven or heavy casserole dish The bread comes out very crusty and with huge holes throughout just like at the bakery
Prep Time
2 days
Dificult
Medium
Servings
2 days 3 hrs
Ingredients
Instructions
Combine the flour
yeast
and salt in a large bowl and mix to combine. Add the water and herbs
if using
and mix well. The dough will be very sticky and shaggy-looking. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 18 to 24 hours.
Generously flour a work surface. The dough will have risen and will be covered in bubbles. Transfer the dough to the work surface and dust it with flour. Fold the dough in half
and then form the dough into a ball by stretching and tucking the edges of the dough underneath the ball.
Liberally flour a kitchen towel (do not use terrycloth). Place the dough ball on the floured towel. Cover with another floured towel. Let the dough rise for about two hours [see footnote].
Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Place a lidded Dutch oven or deep heavy duty casserole dish (with lid) into the oven to preheat.
Carefully remove the hot baking dish from the oven. Remove the lid and gently turn the dough ball into the ungreased baking dish
seam-side up; shake the dish so the dough is more evenly distributed.
Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake until the crust is golden brown
15 to 20 minutes. Remove the loaf from the baking dish and let it cool on a rack before slicing.
Baking Nana
Editor's Note
To ensure the dough is fully risen and ready for the oven
do the Poke Test: flour your index and middle fingers
and poke the side of your loaf about half an inch deep. If the indentations spring back
the dough still needs more time to rise. When the indentations stay put
