Peasant Bread | Easy 4-Ingredient Italian Loaves without an Overnight Starter!!!

Peasant Bread is a 4-ingredient Italian Bread with no added sugar or fats and does not require an overnight starter!!!!

Italian Bread Recipe
5 Cups, 600 grams) AP Flour
4 1/2 Tsp Instant or Active Dry Yeast
2 Teaspoons Table Salt
1 3/4 Cups Warm (100-110F) Water, divided

Directions for making Italian Bread
Place ½ Cup of warm water in a large warm* bowl and add yeast. Stir to dissolve. Add the remaining water, 2 cups of the flour and salt. Stir to form dough. Add enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 6 to 8 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. Place dough in a well-greased bowl, turning to coat the top. Cover and let rise in a warm draft-free place (85F) until doubled in size, about 20-40 minutes.

Punch down dough and divide in half. Roll each half to a 12-inch circle. Roll up each circle tightly as for jelly roll to make loaf. Pinch seams and ends to seal. Taper ends by gently rolling back and forth. Place loaves seam side down on parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with greased cling wrap and let rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled in size, about 20-40 minutes.
With sharp knife, make 3 or 4 diagonal slashes, ¼ inch deep across top of each loaf.
If desired, brush with melted butter or egg wash made with 1 egg and 2 TBSP water.
Bake in a 400F oven for 25 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 190F. Remove from baking sheet and let cool on wire rack before slicing.
For a chewier crust, leave loaves in oven to cool with the oven turned off and the door ajar a couple of inches.
*submerge glass bowl in the sink with warm water or fill metal bowl with hot water for several minutes

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