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🍞 Description

There’s something magical about the smell of freshly baked rustic Italian crusty bread filling your kitchen. This classic loaf is golden and crackly on the outside, soft and airy on the inside, and perfect for dipping in olive oil, pairing with soups, or serving alongside your favorite Italian meals.

No stand mixer or special tools required—just a bowl, a spoon, and some patience. With simple ingredients and a long rise, this rustic bread develops deep flavor and a beautifully textured crust. Ideal for beginner bakers and seasoned pros alike!

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📝 Ingredients (U.S. Standard Measurements)

• 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon instant yeast
• 1 ½ cups lukewarm water
• Cornmeal or extra flour, for dusting

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

Step 1: Mix the dough

In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, and instant yeast. Add the lukewarm water and stir until a shaggy dough forms. It will be sticky—don’t worry!

Step 2: Let it rise (slow fermentation)

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean towel. Let it rest at room temperature for 12–18 hours. The dough should double in size and be covered in bubbles.

Step 3: Shape the dough

Lightly flour your counter. Turn the dough out and shape it into a ball using floured hands. Do not knead—be gentle to preserve the airy structure.

Step 4: Second rise

Place the dough on a piece of parchment paper and let it rise for another 30–45 minutes while your oven preheats.

Step 5: Preheat the oven with a Dutch oven

Place a Dutch oven (or cast iron pot with a lid) into your oven and preheat to 450°F (230°C) for at least 30 minutes.

Step 6: Bake

Carefully place the dough (on parchment) into the hot Dutch oven. Cover with lid and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the lid and bake an additional 15–20 minutes until deeply golden and crusty.

Step 7: Cool

Transfer the bread to a wire rack and let it cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

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🎥 Video Script Outline – “Rustic Italian Crusty Bread”

[Opening Scene: Kitchen counter with ingredients laid out]
🎙️ Voiceover: "Today, we’re baking a rustic Italian bread with a crisp crust and fluffy center—no kneading, no fuss!"

[Clip: Mixing dough in a bowl]
🎙️ "Start with just flour, salt, yeast, and water. Stir it together—no mixer needed!"

[Clip: Dough rising overnight]
🎙️ "Cover and let it rise overnight—this slow fermentation builds flavor and texture."

[Clip: Shaping and preheating Dutch oven]
🎙️ "Shape the dough gently, preheat your Dutch oven nice and hot."

[Clip: Baking bread in Dutch oven, dramatic reveal]
🎙️ "Bake covered first to steam, then uncovered to get that crackly crust."

[Clip: Bread cooling and slicing into the loaf]
🎙️ "Let it cool (we know it’s hard to wait!). Slice, serve, and enjoy with your favorite soup or olive oil dip."

[Closing Scene: Bread on a cutting board with dipping oil]
🎙️ "That’s it—easy, rustic, and absolutely delicious!"

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🍽 Nutrition Facts (Per Slice – Based on 12 slices)

• Calories: 150
• Fat: 0.5g
• Carbohydrates: 31g
• Protein: 4g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sodium: 290mg

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🔥 Tips & Tricks

• Use bread flour for even more chew and structure.
• Add chopped rosemary, garlic, or olives to the dough for flavor variations.
• No Dutch oven? Bake on a preheated pizza stone with an oven-safe bowl of water to steam.
• Always cool completely before slicing to avoid gummy interiors.

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💡 My Special Touch

Brush the crust with a little olive oil and sprinkle with flaky sea salt the moment it comes out of the oven. It gives the bread an extra golden sheen and a subtle richness that’s bakery-quality.