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italian bread

Italian Bread

Discover how to make Italian bread that is versatile and delicious, ready in just 90 minutes for your favorite meals.
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Prep Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course bread
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 2 large loaves
Calories 75 kcal

Equipment

  • large stand mixer
  • 1-2 Sheet pans
  • parchment paper
  • Sharp knife
  • Pastry brush

Ingredients
 

  • 1½ tbsp Instant yeast
  • 3 tbsp Sugar
  • 2½ cups Warm water
  • 1 tbsp Sea salt
  • 1/2 cup Olive oil
  • 5½ cups Bread flour
  • 1 Egg (for the egg wash prior to baking)

Instructions
 

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine yeast, sugar, and water. Allow to rest for a few minutes until the yeast blooms. It will be slightly foamy.
  • Add bread flour, sea salt, and olive oil to the bowl.
  • Using the dough hook on the stand mixer, knead the dough for about 5 minutes or until there is no longer flour on the sides of the bowl and a sticky dough ball is formed.
  • Cover the bowl with a tea towel and allow to rise for 30 minutes.
  • After the dough has risen for 30 minutes, punch down the dough and form a tight ball. Flour a work surface and divide the dough into 2, 4, or 6 equal pieces. Two dough balls will make 2 large Italian bread loaves, four dough balls will make 4 large sub rolls, six dough balls will make 6 hoagie rolls.
  • Spread the dough balls into a rectangular shape and roll long ways, pinching the sides and end to remove the crease at the end of the dough.
  • Gently lay the rolled doughs onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and cover with a tea towel. Two loaves fit on one sheet pan, 4 sub rolls and 6 hoagies fit on 2 large sheet pans. Allow the bread loaves or rolls to rise for an additional 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 375℉.
  • Just prior to baking, slice 4-6 slits on the top of the bread with a very sharp knife.
  • Whisk the egg in a small bowl.
  • Using a pastry brush, gently brush the entire loaves/ rolls with the egg wash.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature is above 190℉. Hoagie rolls will bake faster than the loaf bread.
  • When the bread is golden brown and finished baking, remove the sheet pans from the oven and allow the bread to rest on a cooling rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing. This can be stored in a plastic bag on the counter for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 75kcal
Keyword white loaf
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