Secrets To Making Artisan Bread Better Than Store Bought

Basil Garlic Black Pepper Bread

garlic basil artisan bread recipe

The ingredients:

  • 3 cups lukewarm water
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons granulated yeast (1 1/2 packets)
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons kosher or other coarse salt
  • 6 1/2 cups unsifted, unbleached, all-purpose white flour, measured with the scoop-and-sweep method
  • 4 tbs chopped basil
  • 2 tsp powdered garlic
  • fresh ground pepper

Mix the yeast and warm water together. Next add half of the flour the garlic powder and the basil before mixing in the rest of the flour. You should have a rather shaggy dough by now. Let it rest for a couple hours. Then start pulling the dough to knead it.

Pull/knead the dough every 30 minutes or so for 5 to 6 times.

Form the loaf and let it rest in  your resting basket or on the counter covered with a bowl. Dust with the flour, garlic powder & basil remaining and grind pepper on top before making your cuts.

basil garlic pepper bread recipe

Heat your dutch oven up to 500 degrees, put your loaf in covered for 15 minutes. Then take off the top, reduce the temperature to 425 and let finish baking for another 20-25 minutes. The loaf should be very brown. Remove from oven let rest on a rack or in a basket. Slice after the loaf has reached room temperature.

Quick links to finding the right tools

Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Sour Dough Starter

Scraper

Danish Dough Whisk

Proofing Baskets

Rack for resting

Kitchen scale

Bread lame – cool knife for making the slits in your bread
Click the button to back to the first page with step by step videos

21 Comments

  1. heritage5151

    Can this dough be made in a bread machine

    Reply
    • Nana

      I never use a bread machine but think you might not get the results you are hoping for. Artisan breads are a little messing around then lots of waiting. Kind of every time you go by you turn it on all sides then let it rest.

      Reply
  2. Diane Janisko

    Do you grease the inside of the Dutch oven?

    Reply
    • Hartnana

      Nope, just dump it right on in there. It won’t stick if your dutch oven is well seasoned.

      Reply
  3. Anat

    Could this beautiful bread being baked without a Dutch Oven? Just on a baking rack?

    Reply
    • Hartnana

      Yep. You can make this on a rack with a pan – cast iron is best. Put some water in a hot pan underneath when you put the bread in to get the steam action a dutch over provides

      Reply
  4. Carol

    How long do you let it rest after the loaf has been formed please?

    Reply
    • Hartnana

      About 15 to 30 minutes or so depending on how warm it is where you are proofing

      Reply
  5. Carrie

    Could this bread be baked in a slow cooker?

    Reply
    • Hartnana

      I haven’t tried it that way. I am not sure his it would work. If you decide to experiment let us know his it turns out please

      Reply
  6. Phillip Minyard

    How much ground black pepper? 4 tbs chopped basil – is that tablespoons or teaspoons?

    Reply
    • Hartnana

      That is 4 tablespoons of basil and about 1 teaspoon of black pepper or more to taste

      Reply
  7. Sharon J

    What on earth is the scoop and sweep method!?

    Reply
    • Hartnana

      It’s the method described in the video as a way to prepare the dough for baking (as opposed to kneading).

      Reply
  8. Lynn Holt

    Maybe I missed it, but what are the “secrets”? It appeared that you were giving us some tips that you had learned from you experience. Thank you. The recipe looks delicious.

    Reply
    • Nana

      The secret is in the method of folding and shaping the dough. There is a difference in the resulting crumb when one uses different methods of kneading. Yes it could be considered a tip. Secrets often become tips once you recognize them, because by definition once you now something it isn’t a secret.

      Reply
  9. Marcia Frezza

    I make this recipe regularly and it’s both easy and so delicious. It makes a large bread which I slice after baking and put in freezer bags and freeze till we’re ready to eat and enjoy. It’s a real winner.

    Reply
  10. Ruth

    Is instant yeast ok to use instead?

    Reply
    • Nana

      yep, instant yeast will work too

      Reply
  11. Ted Winzig

    At what temp should be baked and for how long?

    Reply
    • Nana

      I bake my bread at 425 – wait for the oven to come to temperature first then put the bread in. And I squirt (carefully not to hit the glass) water into the oven. The close the door and keep it closed for at least 15 minutes

      Reply

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