Ingredients:
- 3 cups warm water
- 2 ¼ tsp (1 package) active dry yeast
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 6 cups (750 g) flour (bread flour is ideal)
- 3 tsp salt
Instructions:
Activate Yeast:
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, mix the warm water, yeast, and sugar.
- Let it sit for about 10 minutes until it becomes bubbly.
Prepare Dough:
- Add the flour and salt to the yeast mixture.
- Mix until combined into a soft dough. It should be slightly sticky but manageable. If it's too sticky, add flour ¼ cup at a time until it’s workable.
First Rise:
- Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place for 1-3 hours, or until doubled in size. If short on time, 30-60 minutes can work too.
Preheat Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).
- Place a pizza stone or an inverted cookie sheet in the oven to heat up.
Prepare for Baking:
- Fill a baking dish with 2 inches of water and place it on the bottom rack of the oven to create steam.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, fold it onto itself, divide it in half, and form into two balls. Avoid overworking the dough. Add flour if necessary.
Shape and Score:
- Cut an X shape on the top of each dough ball with a sharp knife.
Bake:
- Place the dough balls on a lightly floured pan.
- Transfer the pan to the preheated pizza stone or cookie sheet in the oven.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the loaves are golden brown and cooked through.
Cool:
- Allow the bread to cool on a wire rack before slicing.
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