• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Browse Recipes
    • Latest
    • By Category
  • Indian Vegan Recipes
  • SUBSCRIBE
Holy Cow Vegan
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Latest recipes
  • Browse by category
  • Indian Vegan Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ร—

    Home > Vegan Bread Recipes

    Crusty Italian Bread

    Posted: Dec 9, 2013 ยท Updated: Oct 8, 2021

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

    Loaves with soft, airy crumbs are my favorite, and here's a crusty Italian bread that I absolutely adore and bake up every chance I get.

    Cross section of italian bread on a chopping board.

    This bread needs three rises, including an overnight rise, so this is one of those recipes you want to plan ahead for. But all that rising is what rewards you with a great bread, plus most of it really is idle time when you are not doing anything.

    I also love how versatile this bread is. You could use it for bruschetta, slice it up for a sandwich, tear up pieces of it with your fingers to dunk in your soup, or you could even slather some PB and J on it.

    The recipe makes two loaves, which is perfect because I have enough bread to last us the whole week. You can freshen it up before you serve it by placing it in a brown paper bag, spraying the bag with some water, and placing in a hot oven for about 5-10 minutes. It will be like new.

    Also feel free to play around with the look of this bread. I like shaping it into oval loaves but I have also shaped it in rounds in the past and sometimes I've made three or four smaller loaves with this recipe.

    So get that oven going: fall/winter is a perfect time to bake up some bread and get your house smelling like heaven.

    Related recipes

    • Easiest Crusty Homemade Bread (No-Knead)
    • No-Knead Sourdough Bread
    • Christmas wreath rolls
    • The perfect sandwich bread
    • High protein sandwich bread
    Two loaves of Italian Bread

    Crusty Italian Bread

    Crusty breads with soft, airy crumbs are my favorite, and here's an Italian loaf that I absolutely adore and bake up every chance I get. Vegan, part whole-grain, no added sugars
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Bread
    Cuisine: Italian, nut-free, Soy-free, Vegan
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: Italian Bread
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 40 mins
    Total Time: 40 mins
    Servings: 24 slices (2 loaves, 12 slices each)
    Calories: 101kcal
    Author: Vaishali ยท Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Ingredients 

    • 1 cup whole-wheat flour
    • 4-5 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoon active dry yeast
    • 2 cups warm water (not hot)
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Mix the yeast and the warm water in a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer.
    • Add the whole-wheat flour and ยพth cup of all-purpose flour to the bowl and mix with the dough hook or with a wooden spoon until everything's thoroughly mixed together.
    • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it stand overnight or for eight hours.
    • Now add the salt and the remaining all-purpose flour to the bowl, a cup at a time, kneading and mixing. Drizzle in the olive oil. You want a smooth but not stiff dough. Continue to knead for another eight minutes.
    • Shape the dough into a smooth ball and then place in a greased bowl, turning over once to coat the top with the oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and set it aside to rise in a warm place for an hour or until it has doubled in size.
    • Punch down the dough and divide into two. Shape each half into a loaf by punching it into a round about eight inches in diameter and then rolling it up into a loaf. Pinch the seams together and tuck them underneath.
    • Sprinkle some cornmeal on a lightly greased baking sheet. Place the loaves as far apart as you can on the sheet, giving enough room on all sides for the loaves to rise.
    • Cover with a kitchen towel and set aside for two hours. The loaves should double in size. In the last half hour of rising, preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a baking pan with water in the bottom rack of the oven.
    • Just before you place the loaves in the oven, make two or three sharp slashes on the top of each loaf using a very sharp knife. You want to use a swift motion so as to not deflate the bread.
    • Bake the bread for 40 minutes or until the bottom sounds hollow when tapped.
    • Remove the baking sheet to a rack and cool 10 minutes, then transfer the loaves to the rack and continue cooling them.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 98mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
    Follow Holy Cow Vegan on Instagram

    **

    « Fat-Free Slow Cooker Dal
    Vegan Lime Orzo with Bell Peppers »
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Yummly

    About Vaishali


    Hi! I am so happy you're here. I'm Vaishali, and I've been sharing recipes for delicious vegan food at Holy Cow Vegan since 2007. Every one of the more than 1,000 recipes on this blog has been tried and tested -- and loved -- by my family and I. I hope you will find something here to share with your loved ones. Thanks for stopping by!
    Read more about me here.

    Try these recipes next

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Meagan

      December 12, 2019 at 2:49 pm

      How necessary is it to leave for 8 hours?

      Reply
    2. Kristy

      January 05, 2019 at 6:56 pm

      5 stars
      Making bread tonight. I added crushed rosemary leaves and granulated garlic to give it an even more Italian flavor. It already looks yummy and I shaped the loaves into baguettes. Pray it comes out good??

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        January 07, 2019 at 12:27 pm

        Sounds great! Hope you enjoyed it. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
      • Shelly

        October 02, 2020 at 10:30 pm

        8 hours at room temp or refrigerated?? Either I missed it or that info was forgotten?

        Reply
    3. Jo

      March 27, 2014 at 4:13 pm

      I'm really excited to make this. I have been searching for a low sodium recipe for Italian Bread for months, and this sounds like it might be it! I will comment again after I try it. Thank you so much.

      Reply
    4. Joanne T Ferguson (@mickeydownunder)

      December 11, 2013 at 12:18 am

      G'day Vaishali! Beautiful bread and photo, true!
      I swear I can almost smell it through the computer right now too!
      Cheers! Joanne

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        December 14, 2013 at 9:26 pm

        Thanks, Joanne.

        Reply
    5. Sowmya

      December 10, 2013 at 5:38 am

      beautiful crust!!! love the clicks.. awesome..

      Sowmya

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        December 10, 2013 at 10:58 pm

        Thanks, Sowmya.

        Reply
    6. Pallavi Kulkarni Desai

      December 10, 2013 at 4:09 am

      Oh what a beautiful crust!
      I want to be your neighbor, please!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        December 10, 2013 at 10:59 pm

        Pallavi, I wish you were my neighbor. You must visit me sometime, at the very least. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    7. abc

      December 10, 2013 at 5:35 am

      Vaishali,
      Though Italian bread, it needs very few ingredients. First I thought, you might have used bread flour, which I don't buy since I don't bake breads these days. But this is a must try.
      Thank you very much ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        December 10, 2013 at 10:58 pm

        Thanks, Mukta, hope you try it.

        Reply

    Leave a comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

    Trending recipes

    • Vegan Picadillo Tacos
    • Vegan Zucchini Pasta
    • Chickpea Rice
    • Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
    • Mexican Tofu with Apricots, Chipotle and Tamarind
    • Vegan Swedish Meatballs

    How to make

    • Dosa Recipe | How to Make Perfect Dosai at Home
    • Easy Mushroom Stock
    • Sambar Powder (Sambar Masala)
    • Roti recipe. How to make the softest Roti/Chapati (step by step with video)
    • Healthy Whole Wheat Vegan Puff Pastry (1/2 the fat)
    • Easy Indian Curry Paste for Restaurant-Style Dishes
    • Vegan Mayo
    • How to Make Curry Powder
    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

    Trending recipes

    • Vegan Muffaletta Casserole
    • Cheezy Vegan Mexican Black Bean Casserole
    • Vegan Indian-Spiced Tofu Casserole
    • Lentil Soup
    • Cauliflower Rice Biryani (Keto + Vegan)
    • Easy Vegetable Curry (One-pot, 30 minutes)

    How to make

    • Vegan Instant Pot Yogurt
    • Air Fryer Tofu
    • Ginger Garlic Paste for Indian Recipes | How to make and store it
    • Garam Masala Recipe
    • How to Make a Sourdough Starter (Easy Step by Step Guide)
    • How to make sauerkraut
    • Gluten Free Sourdough Starter
    • Homemade Biryani Masala Spice Mix

    Footer


    ABOUT HOLYCOWVEGAN

    All Recipes
    Recipe Videos
    About Vaishali
    Privacy Policy

    VEGAN INDIAN RECIPES

    Vegan Dal or Dahl Recipes
    Vegan Curry Recipes
    Indian Vegan Desserts

    VEGAN BAKING RECIPES

    Vegan Bread Recipes
    Vegan Sourdough Recipes
    Vegan Cake Recipes
    Vegan Pie Recipes
    Vegan Cookie Recipes


    As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my full disclosure here.

    ยฉ 2022 Holy Cow Vegan