Italian bread is crusty on the outside, and soft on the inside. It’s perfect served with Italian food, such as Chicken Marsala, or Tuscan Shrimp. Sop up some spicy Arrabbiata or Pomodoro sauce, or dip it in olive oil mixed with my Tuscan Spice Blend. It’s easy to make, and ads a delicious finishing touch to your favorite Italian meals.
Italian Bread Recipe
Italian Bread
Equipment
- Bread machine
- Pizza stone
- small glass casserole dish
- Bread peel
- Bread lame
Ingredients
- 3 ¼ cup bread flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 1 ½ cup water – tepid
- 2 tsp cornmeal – heaping
Instructions
- Set bread machine on dough setting, and add ingredients to machine. When dough is ready, dump it out, dust with flour, let it rise, then score and x on one side.3 1/4 cup bread flour, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp instant yeast, 1 ½ cup water, 2 tsp cornmeal
- Put a pinch of cornmeal onto the pizza stone. Add a small casserole dish of water onto the bottom rack. Put pizza stone on center oven rack and heat oven to 450℉. Using a pizza peel, carefully transfer the dough onto the hot pizza stone and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow it to cool slightly.
- Slice into hearty pieces, and serve with herbed butter, olive oil, or your favorite Italian meals.
Notes
PRIVATE NOTES
Nutrition
More Information
What does adding a dish of water do?
Adding a dish of water below the bread will make steam in the oven. This cools down the surface of the bread, slowing down the process of evaporation, and delaying the formation of crust. The crust doesn’t form too soon, resulting in a lighter crust when the bread is fully baked.
What kind of Italian Bread is this?
This recipe can also be called Tuscan Bread, or Pane Toscano. While it is traditionally made in a wood-fired oven, you can also easily make it in your oven at home.
Pairings
Pane Toscano is rather bland by itself, but it is excellent when paired with olive oil, a dash of Balsamic vinegar, and my Tuscan Spice Blend. Try toasting it in the broiler, then top with olive oil and Roasted Garlic. Or, top it with some Parmesan cheese and prosciutto. I love Italian Bread with tomato pasta dishes, such as Chicken Parmigiana, or Pollo in Salsa di Pomodoro.
In Stuffings
Italian Bread is an excellent ingredient for stuffings. Remove the crust, cut it into cubes, and mix it with cubed French bread, cornbread, onions, celery, herbs, and turkey stock to make an excellent Turkey Dressing.
Related Recipes
Arrabbiata or Pomodoro Sauce
Tuscan Shrimp
Tuscan Spice Blend
Baked Penne Pomodoro
Chicken Parmigiana
Care to comment? I'd love to read it. Please be cool, respectful, relevant, positive or constructive, and leave an actual comment. Thanks!