Tuscan bread is a classic Italian staple that has been enjoyed for centuries. This hearty, rustic bread is made with a combination of flour, water, and salt. It is usually baked in an oven or in a traditional terra-cotta oven. The crust is usually dark and crunchy, while the interior is moist and flavorful. The flavor of Tuscan bread is slightly sweet and nutty, with a hint of bitterness.
Tuscan bread is great for dipping in olive oil or for making bruschetta. It also makes a great accompaniment for soups and salads. Its hearty texture and nutty flavor makes it a great stand-alone snack. This bread is a great way to add a bit of Italian flavor to any meal.
Note: If you don’t have a stand mixer you can make the dough in a large bowl, knead on a lightly floured surface, then place back in the bowl and let rise until doubled.
Ingredients
6 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3 cups warm water
2 tsp fine sea salt
1 packet, 1/4 oz, instant yeast
Method
In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the flour, salt, and yeast.
Add the warm water and mix until a soft dough forms. It will be sticky as this is a high hydration dough.
Cover with plastic wrap and a dish towel and let sit for 2 to 3 hours, until doubled in size.
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees with a baking stone on 2nd to lowest rack.
Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Pull dough from the sides and fold over itself to form a large round loaf. Do not handle the dough more than you have to. Transfer dough to a piece of parchment paper.
With a sharp knife, cut an x in the top of the dough.
Put 2 inches of water into a large broiler pan and place it on the bottom rack of the oven, under the baking stone.
Transfer dough to the baking stone and bake for 40-50 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through, removing the parchment paper after 20-25 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool on a rack.
