This no-knead Meyer Lemon Rosemary Bread is baked in a Dutch oven and is a delicious, rustic loaf that is perfect for beginner bread makers.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time1 hourhr
Rising time20 hourshrs
Total Time21 hourshrs15 minutesmins
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Keyword: best bread recipes, Dutch oven bread, Homemade bread recipe, how to make bread at home, lemon rosemary bread, no-knead bread, sourdough bread recipe
Servings: 10slices
Calories: 137kcal
Equipment
5-quart heavy-bottomed pot (like a Dutch oven)
Microplane
Cotton tea towel
Ingredients
3cupsall-purpose flour(or a combination of half white whole wheat and half all-purpose)
¼teaspoonactive dry yeast(not quick-rise)
1 ½teaspoonKosher salt
2teaspoonschopped fresh rosemary
2teaspoonsof Meyer lemon zest (you will need 2-3 lemons)
1 ⅓cupsroom temperature or lukewarm water
Cornmeal, as needed(white or yellow is fine)
Instructions
Day 1:
Combine the flour, yeast, salt, rosemary and lemon zest in a by stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the water and stir until the dry ingredients are well-moistened and a shaggy, sticky dough has formed (I sometimes have to use my hands to lightly knead and work all the ingredients into a loose mass). Transfer the dough to a clean bowl coated with cooking spray. Cover the top of the bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough sit at room temperature (about 70 degrees F) for 12-18 hours. After a minimum of 12 hours the surface will become dotted with bubbles - that’s a sign that ingredients are fermenting and flavor is developing!
Day 2:
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Sprinkle the top of the dough with a little flour and lightly knead it with you hands for about a minute. Cover the dough with plastic wrap on your counter and let it rest for 15 minutes.
Generously coat a tea towel with cornmeal or flour. Gently and quickly shape the dough into a ball with floured hands and place seam-side-down onto the center of the towel. Dust the top of the dough with more cornmeal (or flour) and wrap the towel loosely around the dough. Place the towel with the dough in a large bowl and let it rise until the dough has doubled in size and does not quickly spring back when you poke at it. This should take 1 ½-2 hours.
Thirty minutes before the dough is ready, place a 2 ¾-quart up to a 5 quart cast iron pot in the oven and preheat the oven to 450°F.
Once your oven is preheated, carefully remove the pot from the oven. Open the towel and slide your hand underneath so that you can turn the dough mound seam-side-up into the pot. Give the pot a little shake to make sure the dough is even on the bottom and put the lid on top of the pot. Bake for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 15-30 minutes until the boule is golden brown all over and sounds hollow when you tap it with a wooden spoon.
Remove the pot from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the bread from the pot and let cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.