Instructions
How to make Homemade Italian Bread from scratch
When you make Italian bread at home from scratch, here’s what you’ll need to do.
First, prep the dough by following these steps:
- Add flour, sugar, salt, and oil in a bowl of an electric kneader or stand mixer with a hook attachment.
- Next, attach the dough hook and mix it on the lowest setting.
- Once you start mixing, add in the yeast and then gradually start adding lukewarm water. The dough hook will start to knead the dough, but you need to keep it on a low setting. We use speed 2 on our KitchenAid and kneaded the dough for approximately 7 minutes.
- Next, transfer the hard dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead with your hands for a couple of minutes until the dough becomes smooth with a firm, elastic texture.
Once you’ve kneaded the dough, allow it to proof following these steps:
- First, spray the Inner Pot of the Instant Pot with oil and transfer the dough inside.
- Next, coat the dough in oil and then close the lid.
- Finally, set your pot to yogurt mode and allow it to rise for 2 hours or until it has doubled in size.
- Open the lid and punch the dough down.
- Next, transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and form a ball.
Once you have formed a ball, you will want to divide the dough into two equal parts. When you have made two balls, use the heel of your hand to flatten one of the balls.
- Next, carefully roll the ball into a tight roll. The shape should be elongated with rounded ends Repeat the steps of flattening and rolling the second ball and then place them both on a sheet, cover with a towel, and allow it to proof again for 30 minutes.
Coat and bake
Once the bread has been proofed for 15 minutes, start preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. When the dough is ready follow these steps:
- First, coat the bread with milk to give it a nice top coat and color.
- Next, using a razor blade, slash the dough widthwise about ¼ inch deep, keeping the blade at a 45-degree angle.
- Before placing the bread in the oven, add a cup of water in an oven-safe bowl on the bottom layer of the oven.
- Next, transfer the dough into the bottommost layer of the over, above the water, and bake at 400 F for 20 to 25 minutes.
- To make sure the bread is completely done, tap gently on the bottom. It should produce a hollow sound. Also, the bread will have a golden brown crust.
- Finally, for a nice crusty bread, allow the bread loaves to cool on a wire rack before slicing them with a bread knife and serving them with olive oil, cheese, or your favorite dishes.
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