By: PAIGE FOSTER
Staff Writer
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 ½ tsp dry active yeast
- 1 – 1 ½ cup warm water
- 1 tbsp. dried rosemary
- ½ tsp. dried oregano
- 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- Olive oil
Instructions:
- Mix flour, spices, and yeast into a large bowl.
- Heat 1 ½ cups of water on the stove to 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Slowly add in the water to the flour mixture ¼ cup at a time until the consistency is workable and slightly sticky, but not overly wet. You may not need more than a cup.
- Finely mince garlic and work into the dough.
- Sprinkle flour onto a countertop or cutting board surface. Knead the dough on the floured surface for approximately two minutes, adding a tablespoon or two of water if necessary, until the consistency just begins to become stretchy like gum. This is an indication that gluten has begun to develop in the dough. Avoid overworking the bread, because it may interfere with the rise and make it tough and chewy. Set dough aside.
- Brush the sides of a large (preferably glass) bowl with olive oil. Plop the dough into the bowl and cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise on the counter for 8-12 hours.
- After letting the dough rise, the plastic wrap should be stretched tight and the dough inflated. Remove the plastic wrap and punch the dough in the bowl 2-5 times, until the air is sufficiently knocked from it.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place dough on a floured surface and knead briefly for 30 seconds – 1 minute, or until the dough is moldable and has stretch, but is still fairly soft.
- In a Dutch oven or other oven-safe vessel with a lid, line the cooking vessel with parchment paper. Grease the paper lightly with olive oil.
- Plop the dough into the Dutch oven. Score it lightly across the top with a knife so that it splits evenly while baking.
- Bake at 375 for 35 minutes with the lid of the cooking vessel on. Take the lid off, garnish with additional rosemary, and finish the loaf in the oven for 10 minutes uncovered.
- Remove from the oven and let cool.
- Enjoy!