Rustic Garlic Rosemary Skillet Bread Recipe
This Rustic Garlic Rosemary Skillet Bread is a fragrant, golden loaf with a crisp crust and tender interior, infused with fresh rosemary and garlic. Perfectly baked in a cast iron skillet, it offers a warm, homemade touch ideal for serving alongside soups, salads, or as a flavorful appetizer with dipping oils or butter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf, serves 6 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup warm water
- 1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or roasted
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus more for skillet and drizzling)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm water and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes until the mixture becomes bubbly, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, salt, finely chopped rosemary, and minced or roasted garlic to the bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil and mix everything together until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead Dough: Knead the dough for about 5 minutes on a lightly floured surface until it becomes smooth and elastic, signaling proper gluten development for good texture.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough back into the bowl, cover it with a damp towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour until it doubles in size.
- Prepare Skillet: Drizzle olive oil into a cast iron skillet, coating the bottom and sides thoroughly to prevent sticking and add flavor.
- Shape Dough: Transfer the risen dough to the skillet and gently stretch it to fit the skillet’s shape. Cover and allow it to rise again for 30 minutes for a light, airy texture.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the bread.
- Final Touches: Drizzle additional olive oil over the top of the dough, and sprinkle fresh rosemary and sea salt if desired for extra flavor and aroma.
- Bake Bread: Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the bread turns golden brown on top with crisp edges.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with butter or your favorite dipping oil to enjoy the best flavor.
Notes
- For a deeper garlic flavor, roast the garlic cloves before adding them to the dough.
- A cast iron skillet is essential for even baking and creating a crisp crust.
- Make sure the water is warm, not hot, to avoid killing the yeast.
- Allowing the dough to rise twice enhances the bread’s texture and flavor complexity.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container to keep the bread fresh for 2 days or freeze for longer storage.
Keywords: rustic bread, skillet bread, garlic rosemary bread, homemade bread, cast iron bread, easy bread recipe
