Crusty Bread Loaf

Step 1

Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer. If kneading by hand, ten minutes should do. If using a stand mixer, knead the equivalent of 10 minutes by hand for your particular setup (and make sure to scrape the flour/dough from the sides if it's sticking too much.).

Step 2

Allow the bread to rise until it has at doubled in size. Depending on the strength of your starter, this may take more or less time.

Step 3

Place the dough on a well-floured surface and fold the dough over itself several times. Form the dough into a boule, and place into the Dutch oven, and cover.

Step 4

Even more flour would be fine.

Step 5

Shaped into a boule.

Step 6

Allow the dough to rise again.Before proceeding to the next step, make sure your oven is heated to 475 F.

Step 7

Make cuts in the loaf. I find kitchen shears convenient for this.

Step 8

Simple square cuts.

Step 9

Insert the Dutch oven, still covered, into the oven.

Step 10

Bake at 475 F.

Step 11

Remove the cover from the dutch oven and reduce the heat to 415 F.

Step 12

Continue baking, uncovered.The bread needs to bake beyond the golden brown stage. So if you're checking on it and it appears to be golden brown, it probably needs another 10 minutes.

Step 13

The is actually a bit light. The crust should be a little darker when it's done.

Step 14

About this dark is what you want.

Step 15

Remove the bread from the oven and place on a cooling rack.

Step 16

Allow the bread to cool at least 10 minutes before cutting.