Artisan Simple Crusty Bread

By ezunich

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tbs yeast
• 1 1/2 tbs kosher salt
• 3 cups lukewarm water
• 6 1/2 cups flour
• cornmeal

Details

Servings 4
Adapted from cdkitchen.com

Preparation

Step 1

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl or plastic container, mix yeast and salt into 3 cups lukewarm water (about 100 degrees F).

Stir in flour, mixing until there are no dry patches. Dough will be quite loose. Cover, but not with an airtight lid. Let dough rise at room temperature 2 hours (or up to 5 hours).

Place broiler pan on bottom of oven. Place baking stone on middle rack and turn oven to 450° heat stone at that temperature for 20 minutes. Dust dough with flour, slash top with serrated or very sharp knife three times. Slide onto stone. Pour one cup hot water into broiler pan and shut oven quickly to trap steam. Bake until well browned, about 30 minutes. Cool completely.

Variation:

If not using stone, stretch rounded dough into oval and place in a greased, nonstick loaf pan.

Let rest 40 minutes if fresh, an extra hour if refrigerated. Heat oven to 450° for 5 minutes.

Place pan on middle rack.

This CDKitchen recipe for Artisan Simple Crusty Bread serves/makes 4 loaves