Crusty French Bread - Perfect for Soup!

Ingredients:

• 9 grams (2.25 tsp) active dry yeast

• 4 grams (1 tsp) sugar or honey

• 300 grams (1.25 cups) warm water

• 8 grams (1.25 tsp) kosher salt

• 400 grams flour (2.5–3.5 cups)

Mix the Dough + First Rise

1. Combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water in a large mixing bowl. Let the yeast proof for ~5 minutes, until the mixture is foamy.

2. Add flour to the bowl. Mix until the dough starts to come together, then add salt. Mix until no dry bits of flour remain.

   1. Note: Dough will seem wet/sticky. This is OK and will become more smooth/elastic!

3. Cover bowl with a clean tea towel and let rise on the counter for 1 hour until doubled in size.

Shape the Dough + Final Rise

4. When dough has risen, lightly flour a large cutting board.

5. Tip the dough onto the board. Do not punch! Keep bubbles intact.

6. Shape dough into a round loaf. Pull corners into the middle repeatedly, then flip dough ball and gently continue to form.

7. Flour a medium bowl and place your dough into it seam-side down. Cover with a tea towel for an additional 30 minutes while you heat the oven.

8. While bread is rising, place empty Dutch oven (with lid on) in oven and preheat to 460°F.

Bake

9. Transfer bread dough onto a piece of parchment paper and carefully place in Dutch oven. Cover with lid.

10. Bake at 460°F for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove lid from Dutch oven and continue cooking for 10–15 minutes.

11. Carefully remove from oven; allow bread to cool at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Enjoy!