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No Knead Italian Artisan Bread Recipe

4.5 from 88 reviews

This No Knead Italian Artisan Bread recipe offers a simple, hands-off approach to baking a rustic, crusty loaf with minimal ingredients and effort. Perfect for beginners, it uses a slow rise and baking technique to develop flavor and texture without kneading.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ⅛ teaspoon instant dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • ¾ cup lukewarm water
  • ¼ cup lukewarm water (for activating yeast)
  • 1 teaspoon honey

Instructions

  1. Activate the yeast: Dissolve the instant dry yeast in ¼ cup of lukewarm water mixed with 1 teaspoon honey. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes bubbly, indicating the yeast is active.
  2. Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine the remaining 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour and ¾ cup lukewarm water. Add the activated yeast mixture and stir thoroughly until a sticky dough forms.
  3. Mix in salt and let rise: Incorporate 1 teaspoon salt into the dough, cover the bowl with a damp cloth, and place it in a warm spot. Allow the dough to rise until it doubles in size, which should take between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.
  4. Preheat and shape: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Transfer the risen dough onto a floured baking sheet and score the top lightly with a sharp knife to allow steam to escape during baking.
  5. Bake the bread: Bake the dough for 25 minutes at 425°F. Then reduce the oven temperature to 325°F (160°C) and continue baking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the bread achieves a golden brown crust.
  6. Cool before slicing: Remove the bread from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for at least 15 minutes. Cooling is essential to complete the cooking process and to prevent the bread from becoming gummy when sliced.

Notes

  • Use lukewarm water (not hot) to activate the yeast to avoid killing it.
  • Dough will be sticky; resist the urge to add excessive flour to preserve texture.
  • Allow proper rising time for best flavor and crumb structure.
  • Scoring the dough helps control expansion and creates the characteristic artisan crust.
  • Cooling thoroughly ensures clean slicing and optimal texture.

Keywords: no knead bread, artisan bread, Italian bread, easy bread recipe, homemade bread, crusty bread