Timeless Cooking: Peasant Bread
A simple, hearty bread reminiscent of old-world baking. This no-knead recipe brings a taste of history to your table with minimal effort and wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 0.5 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1.5 cups warm water
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and instant yeast.
- Add the warm water and mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let it rise at room temperature for 2-3 hours, or until doubled in size and bubbly.
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) with a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot inside for at least 30 minutes.
- Carefully remove the hot Dutch oven from the oven. Gently scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
- Shape the dough into a round loaf, folding the edges under to create tension on top. You don't need to knead it.
- Carefully transfer the dough to the hot Dutch oven, seam-side up or down, as desired.
- Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is deeply golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 200-210°F (93-99°C).
- Carefully remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
For a crispier crust, add a pan of water to the bottom rack of your oven while baking. You can also add herbs like rosemary or dried cranberries for variation. Serve warm with butter or a hearty soup.