Don’t ever go bread shopping again! You won’t believe how easy it is to make this fantastically crusty bread from scratch. Four simple ingredients, and no need to knead!
I found a recipe for Dutch oven crusty bread that called for no kneading. Really? A closer look revealed that the offer was too good to be true. My mixer wouldn’t be needed at all. The thought of baking bread has always intimidated me, but I really want to try it. After perusing several recipes, I went out and purchased bread flour and yeast. I won’t sugarcoat it; this bread is as simple as it gets. I’m proof that you can do it, too!
Ingredients
2-3 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp dry yeast (active dry or highly active dry work best)
3 c. all-purpose flour
Special cookware needed: Dutch oven or any large oven-safe dish/bowl and lid
Parchment paper
1 ½ c. lukewarm water
How to make No-Knead Crusty Bread
Step 1: Yeast, salt, and flour should all be mixed in a big bowl.
Step 2: To make a shaggy but cohesive dough, add the water and mix with a wooden spoon until combined.
Step 3: Wrap the plastic wrap securely around the bowl. The dough has to rest for 8-24 hours at room temperature. The dough will begin to rise and bubble.
Step 4: Prepare the oven and preheat it to 450 degrees F for about one hour and a half before you serve the bread. Into the preheated oven, place the Dutch oven for about 30 minutes, uncovered.
Step 5: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and shape it into a ball with floured hands while the Dutch oven heats up. Don’t worry too much about covering the dough completely.
Step 6: When the timer goes off, carefully take the Dutch oven out of the oven. Sprinkle some flour on your hands and transfer the bread to the parchment paper before placing it in the Dutch oven.
Step 7: Cover and bake for about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 7-15 minutes.
Step 8: Take the bread out and set it on the counter or a cutting board.
Step 9: Slice and serve. Enjoy!