Tuscan Bread

Tuscan bread is a classic Italian staple that has been enjoyed for centuries. This hearty, rustic bread is made with a combination of flour, water, and salt. It is usually baked in an oven or in a traditional terra-cotta oven. The crust is usually dark and crunchy, while the interior is moist and flavorful. The flavor of Tuscan bread is slightly sweet and nutty, with a hint of bitterness.

Tuscan bread is great for dipping in olive oil or for making bruschetta. It also makes a great accompaniment for soups and salads. Its hearty texture and nutty flavor makes it a great stand-alone snack. This bread is a great way to add a bit of Italian flavor to any meal.

Note: If you don’t have a stand mixer you can make the dough in a large bowl, knead on a lightly floured surface, then place back in the bowl and let rise until doubled.

Ingredients

Method

In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the flour, salt, and yeast.

Add the warm water and mix until a soft dough forms. It will be sticky as this is a high hydration dough.

Cover with plastic wrap and a dish towel and let sit for 2 to 3 hours, until doubled in size.

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees with a baking stone on 2nd to lowest rack.

Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Pull dough from the sides and fold over itself to form a large round loaf. Do not handle the dough more than you have to. Transfer dough to a piece of parchment paper.

With a sharp knife, cut an x in the top of the dough.

Put 2 inches of water into a large broiler pan and place it on the bottom rack of the oven, under the baking stone.

Transfer dough to the baking stone and bake for 40-50 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through, removing the parchment paper after 20-25 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool on a rack.