Crusty White Bread
Crusty White Bread
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Crusty White Bread

5 stars (538) Rate this recipe
Preparation
20 MIN
Cooking
1 H
Waiting
45 MIN
Raising
12 H
Makes
Makes 1 loaf, about 1 2/3 lb (750 g)
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Ingredients

Bread

Coating

Preparation

Bread

  1. In a large pot, combine the flour, salt and yeast. Add the water. With a fork, stir until the flour is completely moistened, but not necessarily smooth. Cover and let rise at room temperature for 8 to 12 hours, or overnight.

Coating

  1. In a large bowl, place the whole wheat flour. Set aside.
  2. With your hands, directly in the pot, fold the risen dough onto itself, about 6 times, or until it is smooth.
  3. Transfer the dough into the bowl with the whole wheat flour and turn to coat the entire surface of the dough. Cover and let rise for 45 minutes at room temperature or until it has doubled in volume.
  4. Meanwhile, with the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 450°F (225°C). Place a 12-cup (3 litre) Dutch oven or ovenproof pot with its lid (not glass) in the oven, and heat for about 30 minutes.
  5. Remove the pot’s lid. Drop the floured bread dough in the centre of the hot pot. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and continue baking for 30 minutes.
  6. Let the bread cool on a wire rack or in the pot. Remove any excess flour.
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Note

This recipe was inspired by the bread recipe created by Jim Lahey and presented by food writer Mark Bittman in the New York Times.

Comments

  1. Best bread I have ever made! Thank you! I did have to manipulate the temp and time a bit for the baking portion. I also did not have instant yeast. I am grateful that you have this site. I found this in a random search for crusty bread. I will use this site more!

  2. It's an easy enough recipe, but against my better judgement, I cooked it for the thirty minutes without the lid on it in the oven and to my dismay, my loaf was burned to a crisp... are people really supposed to cook this thing at 450 for an hour?! Seems excessive, and it actually looked delicious at the 30 minute mark when I took the lid off...

  3. Does this recipe work with Bread Flour instead of all-purpose?

  4. This is a Great Recipe. And, so easy to make. I will be making this one often. Thank you so much. Diana

  5. I made it with 3 cups of organic white and 1/2 cup integral wheat bread flour. Simple and delicious!

  6. Really really easy and tasty.

  7. Great Bread. First time for me. Problems though, I used a black enamel coated roaster which i believe is the reason the bottom got too dark, almost black. Other problem when i dumped the bread into the hot pot the top of the bread had no dry flour and that's what hit the bottom of the pot. It stuck. next time will sprinkle some flour on the bottom of the pot before dumping it in. will also use a stainless steel roaster instead, cant use a pyrex-glass. This recipe will also make a lovely pizza dough.

  8. been making Lahey's recipe for 5 years now--always a winner especially the cheese one (add 200gms cubed cheese and cracked pepper to the initial recipe) just a note--for organization the bread can sit longer than 12 hours. I usually put it together between 2-4:00PM and work on it the next morning and have it out of the oven by Noon :)

  9. good afternoon ricardo. I do not have dutch oven too heavy for my arthritis hands can you suggest another method please thank you monica

  10. Fantastic! So easy and so delicious! I make it often and it always turns out fabulous. I get rave reviews from everybody who tastes it!

  11. Mmm, home-made, rustic bread that I got to make. How wonderful is that!!! This bread is easy to make, but follow the directions. Make sure to use the un-bleched flour however, it does make a difference. Crusty on the outside, chewy and dense on the inside. Perfect with soup, makes an even better toast in the morning. It will not last long.

  12. I recently tried this bread at my friends luncheon with some home-made leek soup. A total keepr with 5-stars. Follow the recipe exact though, unbleached flour is neccessary. I'll be making my own this winter to enjoy with soups, stews and toast with jelly or peanut butter, as i've been told its great with.

  13. Fantastic bread. I made a loaf of the white bread and then I made a loaf substituting one cup of white flour for 1/3 cup kamut,, 1/3 cup wheat germ and 1/3 cup of oat bran...it was spectacular!!

  14. Wow...excellent bread and easy to make. I added melted butter on the crust as it was cooling ....a little less crusty and delicious.

  15. Excellent, so easy to make and tastes great. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to start making bread.

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