Step 1

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough hook (or in a large bowl, if making the dough by hand), combine THREE cups of the flour, salt, yeast and sugar.

Step 2

Add the water and oil and mix until combined. The mixture will be thinner than bread dough.

Step 3

Cover the bowl and let the batter rest for 10 minutes; it will be slightly bubbly at the end.

Step 4

With the mixer running (or stirring by hand), gradually add another 3 to 4 cups of flour, until the dough comes together in a cohesive ball that clears the bottom and sides of the bowl and doesn't leave a lot of doughy residue on your fingers when touched while still being just slightly tacky (not overfloured and dense).

Step 5

Knead for about 2 minutes until the dough is smooth and supple.

Step 6

Lightly grease a large bowl. Transfer the dough to the prepared bowl, cover with greased plastic wrap or a light kitchen towel, and let rise until doubled, about an hour or so, depending on the warmth of your kitchen.

Step 7

Lightly punch down the dough and divide it into two equal pieces.

Step 8

Grease two 8 1/2-inch by 4 1/2-inch bread pans.

Step 9

Press each piece of dough into a thick rectangle about 8-inches long; roll it up, pressing on the seams, and pinching the final seam together.

Step 10

Place the dough loaves into the prepared pans.

Step 11

Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap or thin kitchen towels and let rise until doubled and the dough has risen about 1-inch above the top rim of the pan, about an hour or so, depending on the warmth of your kitchen.

Step 12

While the dough rises, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 13

Bake the bread for 30-32 minutes until golden and baked through.

Step 14

Remove from the oven and turn the bread out onto a wire rack. Immediately brush the tops of the loaves with melted butter (or use a stick of butter, peeling the paper back and rubbing it on the top of the hot bread).

Step 15

Let the bread cool completely.

Step 16

The bread can be stored at room temperature, covered in a bread bag, for a couple days, or frozen for up to a month or so.