Dutch Oven Garlic Rosemary Bread (Printer-Friendly)

Rustic bread infused with garlic and rosemary, baked in Dutch oven for crispy crust and fluffy interior.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 3 1/4 cups bread flour
02 - 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast

→ Wet Ingredients

04 - 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Aromatics

06 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped

→ For Dusting & Baking

08 - Extra flour or cornmeal for dusting

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk together bread flour, salt, and yeast until thoroughly blended.
02 - Pour in lukewarm water and olive oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
03 - Fold in minced garlic and chopped rosemary, mixing gently to distribute evenly throughout the dough.
04 - Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel. Let rise at room temperature for 2-3 hours until doubled in size.
05 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Using floured hands, gently shape into a round ball without degassing too much.
06 - Place dough seam-side down on parchment paper. Cover loosely and let rest for 30-45 minutes until puffy.
07 - Position a Dutch oven with its lid on the center rack. Preheat oven to 450°F for at least 30 minutes to ensure the pot is thoroughly hot.
08 - Carefully remove the preheated Dutch oven. Lift the dough using the parchment paper and lower it into the hot pot.
09 - Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes to create steam and develop the crust structure.
10 - Remove the lid and continue baking for 12-15 minutes until the crust achieves a deep golden brown color.
11 - Transfer bread to a wire cooling rack. Let cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing to preserve texture.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The crust becomes impossibly crackly and golden while staying tender inside
  • Minimal hands-on time rewards you with bakery style results that fool everyone
02 -
  • The Dutch oven creates steam that gives the bread its crust so do not skip preheating it
  • Resist the urge to add more flour during shaping, sticky dough yields better bread
03 -
  • Roasting the garlic first adds mellow sweetness that raw garlic lacks
  • Cornmeal on the parchment prevents sticking and adds a professional touch to the bottom crust

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