Dutch Oven Garlic Rosemary Bread (Printable Version)

Rustic loaf with crisp crust, soft interior, infused with garlic and rosemary aromatics.

# 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, whisk together bread flour, salt, and yeast until thoroughly blended.
02 - Pour in the lukewarm water and olive oil. Stir vigorously until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
03 - Add the minced garlic and chopped rosemary. Mix gently by hand or with a spatula until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
04 - Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel. Let rise at room temperature for 2-3 hours, until the dough has doubled in volume.
05 - Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Using floured hands, fold the edges toward the center to create tension, then shape into a smooth round ball.
06 - Place the dough seam-side down on a piece of parchment paper. Cover loosely with a towel and let rest for 30-45 minutes until slightly puffed.
07 - Position a Dutch oven with its lid on the center rack of your oven. Preheat to 450°F for at least 30 minutes to ensure the pot is thoroughly heated.
08 - Using heavy oven mitts, carefully remove the preheated Dutch oven. Lift the dough by holding the corners of the parchment paper and lower it into the hot pot.
09 - Cover with the hot lid and return to the oven. Bake for 30 minutes to create steam and develop the crust structure.
10 - Remove the lid and continue baking for 12-15 minutes until the crust achieves a deep golden brown color and sounds hollow when tapped.
11 - Transfer the bread to a wire cooling rack. Let cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing to allow the interior to set properly.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • The crust creates this incredible shatter when you cut into it, like opening a present
  • Fresh garlic and rosemary woven through every bite make store bought bread seem tragically boring
  • Minimal kneading means maximum reward for minimal effort
02 -
  • The Dutch oven needs to be properly preheated or you will not get the oven spring that makes this bread spectacular
  • Resist the urge to add more flour during shaping—sticky dough equals better bread, messy hands are part of the process
03 -
  • If the bottom burns, lower your oven rack next time—every oven runs a little differently
  • The parchment paper is not optional unless you want to wrestle hot dough and potentially ruin everything

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