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4 Ingredient Easy Artisan Bread Recipe

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4.1 from 42 reviews

This 4 Ingredient Easy Artisan Bread recipe is a simple, no-knead bread that requires minimal ingredients and hands-on time. Perfect for beginners, it develops a crispy golden crust and soft interior through a slow fermentation and baking in a covered dish, delivering bakery-quality bread right from your home oven.

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon yeast

Wet Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups warm water

Instructions

  1. Mix Ingredients: In a bowl, stir the flour, salt, yeast, and warm water until combined. The dough should appear dry and shaggy; if it looks wet and sticky, stir in an additional 1/4 cup of flour. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for 8 to 24 hours to allow fermentation.
  2. Shape Dough: Turn the rested dough out onto a well-floured surface and form it into a ball. Optionally, place the dough ball on a piece of parchment paper for easier transfer later.
  3. Rest Dough: Let the dough rest for 30 minutes to relax the gluten and allow it to rise slightly. Meanwhile, place an oven-safe baking dish with high sides into the oven and preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C).
  4. Prepare for Baking: Using a sharp knife or razor, slash an “X” on top of the dough to allow for oven spring. Carefully transfer the dough along with the parchment paper into the preheated baking dish and cover it with a lid or aluminum foil.
  5. Bake Covered: Bake the covered dough for 30 minutes. Keeping it covered helps trap steam and develop a crusty exterior.
  6. Bake Uncovered: Remove the cover and continue to bake the bread for an additional 15 minutes or until the crust is a deep golden brown and crisp.
  7. Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool completely before slicing to ensure the crumb is set and ready to eat.

Notes

  • Resting the dough between 8 to 24 hours enhances the flavor through fermentation; longer resting times yield more depth in taste.
  • Using parchment paper makes transferring the dough easier and prevents sticking to the baking dish.
  • Adjust flour quantity based on dough consistency; the dough should not be overly sticky to handle.
  • Allow bread to cool thoroughly before slicing to avoid a gummy texture inside.