Sourdough pizza
Today, I’m sharing my journey of crafting a crispy yet chewy pizza crust from scratch, using wholesome ingredients and a touch of sourdough magic.
Today, I’m sharing my journey of crafting a crispy yet chewy pizza crust from scratch, using wholesome ingredients and a touch of sourdough magic.
This versatile recipe can be used to make excellent Ciabatta rolls, English Muffin bread, or artisan open bake crusty bread with a soft crumb, and big holes.
While I munch on this most recent whole wheat, crusty Italian bread, I’m reflecting the secret to rustic Italian Bread without the additives. Over the last few weeks, I’ve made in tons of Italian bread:
What these fresh milled, whole grain Italian bread loaves all have in common is the use of Vital Wheat Gluten. It’s an additive I had pretty much eliminated from my baking since I decided to use lower amounts of yudane to get my bread soft, soft, and strong. And I was happy with that!
A few close friends expressed a strong desire for artisan Italian bread made from freshly milled, whole wheat flour. They envisioned a loaf with a crispy exterior, a tender interior, and generously-sized holes. Not only that, they preferred it not to be baked in a Dutch oven. Local bakeries achieve similar results by incorporating high-gluten flour and dough enhancers. Therefore, I developed a whole wheat Italian bread recipe utilizing vital wheat gluten to mimic these qualities.
Once I posted my recipes, folks asked the same questions I usually have:
Can I make authentic fresh-milled Italian bread without the vital wheat gluten, and how?
Those folks inspired me to keep trying with the Italian bread without additives. I’m THRILLED to show you it CAN be done, and it can be GREAT! I nearly neglected the impact of reducing yudane in my soft sandwich loaves, which enabled me to omit vital wheat gluten and lecithin, still maintaining softness and pliability. I’m not sure WHY it didn’t occur to me sooner to try it with this bread.
Thanks to some comments and support from my friend Monique at Lovely Belle Bakes, I was able to:
This rustic Italian bread recipe is perfect in every way – the texture of the crumb, how it holds it’s height, and it’s chewy yet crunchy crust. This is a daily loaf winner! I hope you enjoy this whole wheat Italian bread recipe as much as my family and friends do.
This Italian bread dough is by far the best I’ve made, at over 120% hydration. Thanks to using yudane, which is a paste formed by mixing flour with boiling water, I get these really big holes reminiscent of refined flour bakery bread yet enjoy the read more…
A rustic, crusty taste of Italy packs a nutritional punch with our Italian bread. Can be made with no additives!
Soft and chewy, crusty Italian bread is a delight once you’ve mastered the art of baking it. That thick, crunchy yet chewy crust paired with a moist, soft interior—it’s what dreams are made of!
Crusty Italian bread is deeply embedded in Italian culture, where bread holds a sacred place at the dining table. Throughout history, Italian bread has symbolized sustenance, community, and tradition. Families gather around crusty loaves to share meals, dip into olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or sop up rich pasta sauces. It’s not just a food item but a cultural emblem that connects generations through its timeless appeal and artisanal craftsmanship.
Italy’s diverse regions boast a spectrum of bread varieties, each with its unique characteristics. From the chewy ciabatta of Tuscany to the hearty pane di Altamura from Puglia and the airy focaccia of Liguria, Italian bread showcases regional ingredients and baking techniques. Crusty Italian bread, often characterized by its rustic appearance and robust flavor, varies in shape and texture across the country, reflecting local culinary traditions and agricultural practices.
My family enjoys the basics: sandwich bread, rolls, flatbread, pizza, and sweet treats. While I experiment with special loaves like jalapeno and cheddar sourdough, they prefer simple pleasures. Cinnamon rolls? They’re all in. But what they truly crave is plain, fluffy bread with a soft crust.
This rustic Italian bread is different—it features larger holes and a soft, almost chewy crumb encased in a thicker, crunchy crust. Perfect for dipping into soups or pairing with pasta as garlic bread.
My friends Eric and Lisa were eager for this crusty Italian bread after seeing a video using refined all-purpose flour. I adapted my approach, like preheating the Dutch oven and extending baking time even after the bread reaches 190°F, which helps remove excess moisture and enhances texture. I expect to refine this recipe further, but it’s already a winner.
If you’re short on time for stretch and folds, mix the rustic Italian bread dough in a mixer and refrigerate until convenient. Preheat the oven, possibly perform one set of stretch and folds, then bake—the process is mostly hands-off.
Baking without a Dutch oven (AKA Open Bake):
Special thanks to Monique from Lovely Bell Bakes for sharing her method of shaping and baking this Italian bread recipe without a Dutch oven:
- Preheat oven to 450°F with a baking steel or pizza stone inside. Place a metal pan on the bottom rack and pour in boiling water once preheated.
- Place loaves on parchment paper, score them, then place in the oven and generously spray with water before closing.
- Bake at 450°F for 20 minutes, remove the water pan, then bake at 425°F for an additional 20 minutes.
Monique also shared a helpful video demonstrating shaping techniques for this high hydration crusty Italian bread dough.
Crusty, Rustic Italian Bread without Vital Wheat Gluten
If you’re in the mood for a super soft daily bread, try our Basic Bread Dough recipe. Never baked bread before? Check out my guide on The Freshly Milled Bread Method.
Learn how to good daily loaf, moist and delicious, yet with no extra sugar or fat added.
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