
There is something almost magical about pulling a crackling, golden loaf out of a Dutch oven when all you did the night before was stir four ingredients together. This is a genuinely fuss-free bread β no stand mixer, no kneading, no complicated technique β just flour, instant yeast, salt, and warm water doing their slow, quiet work overnight. The long fermentation is what builds that deep, complex flavor and the beautifully open crumb you'd expect from an artisan bakery. Because the ingredient list is so clean and straightforward, there's zero guesswork about what's hiding inside β no spice blends, no seasoning mixes, nothing unexpected. The Dutch oven traps steam during the first bake, giving the crust that signature crunch that shatters when you slice into it. Waiting the full hour before cutting is genuinely the hardest part, but the payoff β a chewy, airy interior with a deeply caramelized crust β is absolutely worth it. Whether you're toasting thick slices for breakfast or tearing chunks off alongside a bowl of soup, this loaf delivers every single time.
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In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, instant yeast, and salt. Pour in the warm water and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until no dry flour remains and a shaggy, sticky dough forms β about 1 minute. The dough will look rough and uneven; that is correct.
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel and let the dough rest at room temperature for 8 to 18 hours, until the surface is dotted with bubbles and the dough has roughly doubled in size.
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