Garlic Herb Dutch Oven Bread Recipe
This Garlic Herb Dutch Oven Bread is a simple yet flavorful artisan-style loaf with fresh herbs and garlic, baked inside a hot Dutch oven to achieve a crisp crust and soft, airy crumb. It requires minimal hands-on time, thanks to an overnight rest, and results in a delicious homemade bread perfect for serving with soups, salads, or as a savory snack.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 12 to 18 hours 65 minutes
- Yield: 1 round loaf (about 8-10 servings) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
Wet Ingredients & Flavorings
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (such as rosemary and thyme), chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, and instant yeast thoroughly to form the dry base of the dough.
- Add Wet Ingredients & Herbs: Pour in the warm water, then add the minced garlic and chopped fresh herbs. Stir everything together until a homogenous dough forms.
- Rest the Dough: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and leave it at room temperature for 12-18 hours. This long fermentation develops flavor and texture.
- Preheat Oven & Dutch Oven: After resting, preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Place your Dutch oven inside the oven to heat up for about 30 minutes, ensuring it’s thoroughly hot before baking.
- Prepare Dutch Oven: Carefully remove the heated Dutch oven from the oven and add the tablespoon of olive oil to the bottom to prevent sticking and add flavor.
- Shape the Dough: Transfer the fermented dough to a floured surface and gently shape it into a smooth ball, maintaining as much air inside as possible.
- Bake Covered: Place the dough ball inside the hot Dutch oven and cover it with the lid. Bake for 30 minutes to steam the bread and develop crust.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the lid and continue baking the bread for another 15-20 minutes until the crust turns a beautiful golden brown and is crisp.
- Cool Before Slicing: Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. This resting allows the crumb to set, making slicing easier and cleaner.
Notes
- Using fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme adds a wonderful aroma and flavor but feel free to substitute with herbs you prefer.
- The long fermentation can be adjusted between 12 to 18 hours depending on your schedule; the dough is ready when it has doubled in size and appears bubbly.
- Ensure your Dutch oven is oven-safe at high temperatures and has a tight-fitting lid for best baking results.
- Allow the bread to cool completely for at least 1 hour before slicing to prevent a gummy texture inside.
- You can store this bread wrapped in a linen towel at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for longer storage.
Keywords: Garlic bread, herb bread, Dutch oven bread, artisan bread, no-knead bread, homemade bread, rosemary bread, thyme bread
