To begin, combine the flour, salt, and yeast in a mixing bowl. Stir those together and add the lukewarm water. Stir this all together with a rubber spatula.
With the spatula, push it into a round ball-like shape and cover it with plastic wrap. Set it on your counter and walk away.
The next day (12-18 hours later) you will preheat your oven to 450 degrees. At the same time, you will also preheat an oven-safe cast iron Dutch oven with lid.
NOTE: This bread can also be made "same day" if you start the dough early in the morning and let it rest for a minimum of 6 hours. It will not develop the same flavor, but will still be a wonderful loaf of artisan bread.
While it is heating, spread a good dusting of flour onto a work surface. Remove the plastic from the bowl plop the sticky blob of dough out onto your floured surface.
With floured hands, pull out any dough that remains in the bowl. Shape the dough into a ball and cover it with the plastic until the oven is finished heating.
When it is ready, take the hot Dutch oven out of the oven and carefully drop your dough in.
Bake it with the lid on for 30 minutes, then remove the lid and bake for 15 more minutes. Remove it from the oven and let it cool on a rack.
This is a soft, tender bread with an “artisan” crunchy crust.
Enjoy!
Video
Notes
You can make any number of variations of this. You can add some shredded cheese, some herbs, citrus zest…how about cranberries and lemon zest? Or raisins? Mozzarella & some dried oregano? Experiment and have fun…what combinations might you come up with?