No Knead Rustic Bread

5 from 1 vote

This rustic bread recipe never fails! You don't even have to knead it. All you need to do is make sure you have a dutch oven big enough to fit the loaf and enough time to let the dough rise. We often serve this with soups or stews. Your entire family will love it and it will impress your friends.

Prep Time2 30

Cook Time42

Cooling Time15

Total Time3 27

Servings:

Calories: 245kcal

Cost: $1.49

Equipment

1 Dutch Oven
1 Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

For the Dough

3 Cups Bread Flour
2 Tsp Instant Yeast
2 Tsp Kosher Salt
1.5 Cups Very Warm Water

For Shaping the Dough

1.5 Tbsp All Purpose Flour
1 Sheet Parchment Paper

Instructions

Mixing the Dough

In a large mixing bowl add the 3 cups of bread flour
Add the Instant yeast
Add the salt
Whisk it all together
Run the tap water until very warm, not hot- the temp of a very warm bath, add it to the flour mixture
Stir all the ingredients together, a wooden or heavy plastic spoon works well

Rising

Place a warm damp towel over the bowl in a warm area of the house.
After 1 hour check on its progress it should be rising some by now, if not you may have a yeast issue or a temperature issue. You can try moving it to a better spot and or add a different yeast. Because sometimes yeast has died.
Once you can confirm it is rising let it sit for another hour, it should be twice its original size. If you do not have time to bake it now, you can place it in the fridge. (it can stay safely in the fridge for the next 72 hours) Some people say this actually improves the breads flavor.

Heating The Oven and Dutch Oven

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F
This next step is critical to your breads out come. Place the empty dutch oven with the lid on in the oven for 30 minutes

Shaping and Cooking The Bread

Sprinkle your work surface with the 1 Tbsp of all purpose flour
Dust the top of the dough with the 1/2 Tbsp of flour
Scrape your dough from the bowl and turn onto the floured surface
Fold your dough about 6 folds to form the best circle shape you can- do not get hung up on it being perfect this is a rustic loaf
Move the dough onto the piece of parchment paper by flipping onto the middle of the paper . You can reshape here a little, if need be.
Carefully remove the pipping hot dutch oven and place it on top of your stove.
Carry the dough on the parchment paper and place it on the dutch oven. Try to get all the paper inside the pot
Place the cover on the dutch oven
Cook for 30 minutes with the cover on
Remove the cover and cook for an additional 8-12 minutes to reach the desired color and crust
Cool on a rack for 15 minutes before slicing
Slice into nice big chunks

Notes

When you are making the dough it should be very sticky if it is not you can add a tablespoon of warm water

Conversely if it is too runny you can add a tablespoon of bread flour

If your yeast dies you can use a new batch of instant yeast or if you have some fast acting dissolve it in warm water and once you can smell a beer like smell ( that is the yeast) you can add it to your old dough. There is "no need" to start the whole dough over . Ha, lol see what I did there?

Nutrition