4 Ingredient Easy Artisan Bread Recipe
This 4 Ingredient Easy Artisan Bread recipe delivers a simple, no-knead bread perfect for beginners and bread lovers alike. With just flour, salt, yeast, and water, and minimal hands-on time, you can create a crusty, golden loaf with a soft, airy interior. The dough requires a long rest and is baked covered to capture moisture, resulting in a delicious homemade artisan-style bread that's perfect for any meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 8 hours 55 minutes (including resting time)
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon yeast
Wet Ingredients
- 1.5 cups warm water
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt, yeast, and warm water until the mixture is combined. The dough should appear dry and shaggy. If it looks wet and sticky, gradually add an additional 1/4 cup of flour until the texture is right. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest at room temperature for 8 to 24 hours to ferment.
- Shape the Dough: After resting, turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and gently form it into a round ball shape. If preferred, place the dough on a piece of parchment paper for easier transfer to the baking dish.
- Second Rest: Allow the shaped dough to rest for 30 minutes at room temperature to relax the gluten and rise slightly. Meanwhile, place an oven-safe baking dish with high sides into the oven and preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C).
- Score and Transfer: Using a sharp knife, slash an "X" across the top of the dough. Carefully transfer the dough into the preheated baking dish. If using parchment paper, you can lift the dough along with the paper and place both into the baking dish to avoid deflating the dough.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with a lid or aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. This step traps steam, which helps develop the bread's crust.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the cover and continue baking the bread for about 15 more minutes, or until the crust turns golden brown and crisp.
- Cool Before Slicing: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing to ensure the crumb sets perfectly and juices redistribute.
Notes
- The long fermentation time allows flavor development and a better crust.
- If the dough feels too sticky, adding small amounts of flour can help achieve the right consistency.
- Using parchment paper makes transferring the dough much easier and prevents sticking.
- Resting the dough uncovered in the final bake develops a crunchy crust.
- Be sure to allow the bread to cool fully before slicing to avoid gummy texture inside.
Find it online: https://dishcooks.com/4-ingredient-easy-artisan-bread-recipe/
