Parmesan Garlic Artisan Bread (Printable Version)

Rustic loaf with golden crust and tender, cheesy, garlicky crumb. Ready in hours.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons salt
03 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
04 - 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
05 - 1 1/2 cups warm water (110°F)
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Add-ins

07 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or parsley (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and sugar until evenly blended.
02 - Dissolve the yeast in warm water in a small bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy and activated.
03 - Pour the yeast mixture and olive oil into the dry ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon until a sticky, shaggy dough forms.
04 - Fold in the Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, and optional herbs. Mix until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
05 - Cover the bowl with a clean towel or plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place for 12-18 hours until doubled in size and bubbly on surface.
06 - Turn the risen dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently shape into a round loaf, handling minimally to preserve air pockets.
07 - Place the shaped loaf on parchment paper. Let rest for 30 minutes while preheating oven to 450°F with a Dutch oven inside.
08 - Use a sharp knife or lame to make a shallow slash across the top of the loaf to control expansion during baking.
09 - Carefully transfer the dough with parchment into the preheated Dutch oven. Cover with lid and bake for 30 minutes.
10 - Remove the lid and continue baking for 15 minutes until golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
11 - Transfer the baked loaf to a wire rack. Cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing to preserve texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The Dutch oven creates steam that gives you a professional bakery crust without any fancy equipment
  • Overnight fermentation does all the work while you sleep, developing deep flavor and perfect texture
  • Each slice delivers pockets of melted Parmesan and bursts of roasted garlic throughout
02 -
  • Sticky dough is your friend here, adding more flour will make your bread dense instead of airy
  • A thoroughly preheated Dutch oven is non negotiable for that crisp, crackly crust
  • Letting the bread cool completely prevents the texture from becoming doughy or gummy
03 -
  • Grate your cheese from a wedge instead of using pre shredded cheese, which contains anti caking agents that prevent smooth melting
  • If your house runs cold, let the dough rise in your oven with just the light on for gentle warmth
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