House of Hossain Artisan Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups warm water (105-115°)
• 1 1/2 tbsp active dry yeast
• 1 tbsp coarse salt
• 6 cups all-purpose flour or bread flour plus 4 for dusting

Instructions

1. In a large bowl mix the water, yeast and salt. Add the flour and stir together with a wooden spoon until well combined. You will have sticky dough. Add a little more water if it seems dry.
2.  In another bowl put a little olive oil, add the dough and turn to coat. Spray plastic wrap with baking oil and cover loosely. Leave out on the counter for 2 hours. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap.
3. The dough will be really sticky. Flour the counter. Work some flour into the dough as you manipulate and form the bread into preferred shape, I usually do rounds. The dough will still be sticky.
4. Spray a pan with cooking oil and place the dough in the pan on parchment paper. Turn the oven to 450°. Sprinkle the dough with a little flour and score it about ¼ inch deep with a sharp knife. Make a 3-inch slit crosswise or a 3-inch slanted slit in the middle. 
5. When oven is heated, place the pan on the middle rack with 1 cup of water in a shallow pan on the rack below. This helps to create steam and make the bread crusty. Bake for 20-25 min. Cool on baking rack.
6. Serve warm or at room temperature. Keep in a paper bag.

I hope you all enjoy!