Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Skill Level: Medium
Cost To Make: $4-$5
Serving: 8-10
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup warm water 100˚ F.
- ½ tbsp salt
- ¾ tbsp yeast
- 3¼ cups better for bread flour OR unbleached, all-purpose flour
- plus extra flour for dusting
What you will need:
- Parchment paper
- 2 Tbsp Cornmeal
Instructions
- Add water and salt to a large bowl. Sprinkle yeast over the top and let it sit 1-2 minutes, then stir.
- Measure out exactly 3¼ cups of flour (fill the measuring cup and scrape off the top with the back of a knife) and add flour to the bowl.
- Using a spatula, stir the mixture until it all comes together and is well blended.
- Cover dough with plastic wrap or lid and let it rise at room temperature 2 hours (It rises about 2-3 times in volume).
- Line a cutting board with parchment paper and generously dust with flour.
- Scrape dough out of the bowl with spatula onto the floured surface.
- With well-floured hands, fold the dough in half, then fold the dough in half again. Dust the dough generously with flour, lift it up and form a ball in your hands. Sprinkle the parchment paper with corn meal extending about 1″ past the border of the dough since it will expand. Place the dough over the cornmeal, seam side down.
- Let it rise on the counter uncovered for 40 minutes. It will look like this when it’s ready to bake:
- You will need two shelves in the oven. The middle rack will hold the bread and the bottom rack will hold the water pan. For the bread, use a rimless cookie sheet in the center of the oven. You can also use a regular cookie sheet and turn it upside down. About 10 min before the dough has finished rising, preheat the oven and the cookie sheet to 450˚ F.
- Once dough is ready to bake, dust the top with flour and cut three strips across the top with a serrated or very sharp knife.
- Once the oven is preheated, put baking dish on bottom rack and pour 1 cup hot water to that baking dish.
- Slide the dough with the parchment paper onto the hot cookie sheet and bake at 450˚ F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let it cool down a little before cutting into it.
