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Lemon Rosemary Bread

Course: Bakery
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 1 loaf
Author: Eva Marie
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Ingredients

  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon yeast
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt plus ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt for sprinkling
  • 2 tablespoons lemon- rosemary olive oil plus more for pouring
  • 2-3 lemon slices cut in half
  • 1 tablespoons finely minced rosemary
  • Zest from 1 lemon finely grated
  • 4 small rosemary sprigs for garnish

Instructions

  • In a large bowl combine flour, lemon zest, yeast and salt.
  • Add water and infused olive oil - stir with a wooden spoon until blended, the dough will be shaggy and sticky.
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, foil or a lid.
  • Let the dough sit for at least 15 hours and up 24 hours, at a warm room temperature, about 70 degrees. The dough will be covered with bubbles when it is ready to use.
  • Sprinkle half the rosemary over the dough.
  • Using your fingers, loosen the dough from the bowl and fold it over on to itself.
  • Sprinkle the dough with the remaining rosemary, and repeat the foldover and then knead the dough a few times.
  • With floured hands, shape dough into a ball and pinch the seams together.
  • Heavily coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour.
  • Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours.
  • When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size.
  • Thirty minutes before the dough is ready to bake, heat oven to 500 degrees.
  • Put a heavy 6 to 8 quart covered pot in oven as you preheat the oven.
  • Remove the pot from oven. Carefully place a round of parchment paper on the bottom of the pan.
  • Use a razor or large scissors to cut 4-6 “petals” in the dough.
  • Gently slide your hand under the dough and place it into pot (I wear heat resistant gloves when I do this so not to burn myself).
  • Place a slice of lemon under each petal.
  • Drizzle dough with some of the lemon olive oil, then brush it over the exposed dough and sprinkle with sea salt.
  • Cover the pot with lid, reduce heat to 450 degrees, and bake for 30 minutes, uncover and bake for another 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
  • Remove from oven and pan and cool on a rack.
  • Garnish with fresh sprigs of rosemary.