Dutch Oven Garlic Rosemary Bread (Printable Version)

Aromatic bread with crisp golden crust, soft interior, infused with garlic and rosemary.

# What You 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 Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk together bread flour, salt, and yeast until thoroughly blended.
02 - Stir in the lukewarm water and olive oil until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
03 - Add the minced garlic and chopped rosemary, mixing gently to distribute evenly throughout the dough.
04 - Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let the dough rise at room temperature for 2–3 hours, or until doubled in size.
05 - Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. With floured hands, shape gently into a round ball, keeping the seam smooth.
06 - Place dough seam-side down on a piece of parchment paper. Cover loosely and let rise for another 30–45 minutes until puffy.
07 - While the dough rises, place a Dutch oven with its lid in the oven and preheat to 450°F for at least 30 minutes to ensure proper heat retention.
08 - Carefully remove the hot Dutch oven from the oven. Lift the dough using the parchment paper and lower it into the preheated pot.
09 - Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes to create steam and develop the crust structure.
10 - Remove the lid and bake for an additional 12–15 minutes until the crust achieves a deep golden brown color.
11 - Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Let cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing to preserve texture.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The crust gets impossibly crisp while the inside stays pillowy soft, that magical bakery texture you usually have to go out for
  • Fresh rosemary and garlic practically perfume your kitchen, making the cooking experience just as wonderful as the eating
  • No kneading required and almost all hands off time, so you get maximum reward for minimal effort
02 -
  • That Dutch oven needs to be screaming hot when the dough goes in, or you will not get the impressive oven spring and crispy crust
  • Resist the urge to slice while it is still warm or the steam escapes and ruins that perfect interior texture
  • The parchment paper is non negotiable for transferring safely without burning yourself on that extremely hot pot
03 -
  • Roast your garlic cloves beforehand for a sweeter, mellower flavor that nobody will be able to pinpoint
  • Use a spray bottle to mist the dough right before baking for an extra crackly crust

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