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Rustic Italian Bread

by Glyn Dexter-18 April 2026Easy

Prep Time15 min

Cook Time30 min

Total Time45 min

Servings1

I never thought I could make my own Rustic Italian bread until I inherited this recipe. It’s simple. You just need the ingredients, fork and a bowl. No fancy bread machine, or electric mixer. Just your hands.

Imported RecipeOriginally from: www.forthefeast.com

Method

0
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
1
In a bowl, add 1 cup of warm water and dry active yeast and let it stand until creamy (about 5 minutes).
2
In another bowl add flour, salt, and sugar. After 8 minutes take the yeast and give it a mix then add it to the flour mixture, mixing it in with a fork until sticky, add the additional cup of water a little at a time and continue to form it into a ball.
3
Sprinkle with a bit more flour and work it with your hands to make a ball.
4
Take the dough and gently mold it into a smooth but firm ball with an elastic feel.
5
Put the dough back into the bowl and cover with a kitchen towel and let it rise. This could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour.
6
Once it rises take a little more flour, pat it down and roll it into a ball again.
7
Put the dough back into the bowl and let it rise 1 more time if desired.
8
After rising, place the dough on parchment paper on a baking tray. Shape it into an elongated oval with tapered ends.
9
Coat the dough with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt or sesame seeds.
10
Score the top of the dough with a sharp knife at a 45 degree angle.
11
Bake for 30 minutes, until you hear a hollow sound when you tap the bottom.
12
Allow the bread to cool slightly before serving.