5-Ingredient No-Knead Crusty Panini Bread Recipe
This 5-Ingredient Crusty Panini Bread Recipe is a simple, no-knead bread that yields a deliciously crusty exterior and soft interior perfect for making paninis at home. With minimal ingredients and effort, you can create fresh homemade bread that crisps beautifully when pressed and grilled.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 large loaf (about 10 slices) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 4 cups All Purpose Flour
- 2 tsp Instant Yeast
- ½ tsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 2 cups Warm Water
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
- Mix the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt. Stir these dry ingredients until well mixed.
- Add liquids and form dough: Pour in the warm water and olive oil gradually, stirring with a spoon or your hand until a shaggy dough forms. The dough will be sticky and loose which is perfect for this no-knead recipe.
- First rise: Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise at room temperature until it has doubled in size, about 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Shape the dough: Lightly flour a work surface and gently transfer the dough onto it. Fold it over onto itself a few times to shape it into a rough round loaf. Avoid overworking the dough to maintain its light texture.
- Second rise and prepare panini bread: Place the shaped dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover it again and let it rise for another 45 minutes to 1 hour until puffy.
- Bake the bread: Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Place a baking dish with hot water on the bottom rack to create steam. Bake the bread on the middle rack for 25 to 30 minutes until it’s golden brown and crusty.
- Cool and slice: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. This crusty loaf is now ready to be pressed into delicious paninis.
Notes
- Use warm water (about 100-110°F) to activate the yeast effectively.
- Do not knead the dough vigorously; a no-knead technique develops gluten gently for the perfect texture.
- Creating steam in the oven helps develop a crispy crust on the bread.
- Let the bread cool fully before slicing to avoid a gummy texture.
- This bread can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
Keywords: panini bread, no knead bread, crusty bread recipe, homemade bread, easy bread recipe, 5 ingredient bread, Italian bread