Dutch Oven Garlic Rosemary Bread (Printable Version)

Aromatic bread with crisp golden crust, soft interior infused with fresh 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

# Directions:

01 - Whisk together bread flour, salt, and yeast in a large mixing bowl until evenly distributed.
02 - Pour lukewarm water and olive oil into the flour mixture. Stir vigorously until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
03 - Fold minced garlic and chopped rosemary into the dough, mixing gently to distribute evenly throughout.
04 - Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel. Let dough rise at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours until doubled in size.
05 - Turn risen dough onto a lightly floured surface. Using floured hands, gently shape into a round ball, folding edges underneath to create surface tension.
06 - Place dough seam-side down on parchment paper. Cover loosely and let rest for 30 to 45 minutes while oven preheats.
07 - Position Dutch oven with lid on center rack. Preheat oven to 450°F for at least 30 minutes to ensure pot is thoroughly heated.
08 - Carefully remove hot Dutch oven. Lift dough using parchment paper and lower into pot, handling parchment edges to avoid burns.
09 - Cover with lid and bake for 30 minutes to create steam and develop oven spring.
10 - Remove lid and continue baking for 12 to 15 minutes until crust achieves deep golden brown color.
11 - Transfer bread to wire rack and cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing to allow crumb structure to set.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The crust gets outrageously crispy while staying soft inside, exactly what you want from rustic bread
  • Minimal hands-on time with maximum reward for your effort
  • That garlic rosemary combo makes every slice feel like something special
02 -
  • The Dutch oven needs to be fully preheated or you will not get the steam effect that makes this crust amazing
  • Resist the urge to add more flour during shaping, sticky dough yields better bread
  • Cutting into the bread while it's still warm will make the texture gummy and dense
03 -
  • If you want stronger garlic flavor, roast the cloves first until soft and mash them into the dough
  • The dough should feel sticky and tacky, not smooth and dry, for the best rise
  • A hot oven is non-negotiable, let it preheat longer than you think you need to

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