This crusty Italian bread recipe is the kind of loaf that makes you feel like you’ve just raided a village bakery in the hills of Tuscany. It’s golden, crisp on the outside, and warm and chewy inside—the kind of bread that never makes it to the basket because someone always tears off a chunk straight from the oven (guilty as charged). I’ve made this countless times and let me tell you—it’s the kind of reliable go-to that works whether you're slathering it in butter, dunking it in soup, or using it as a sponge for your favorite pasta sauce. We’re talking real-deal comfort bread here, made with basic ingredients, no bread machine needed, and zero stress. I promise you don’t need to be some kind of culinary wizard to pull this off. All it takes is a little time, a warm spot for rising, and a decent attitude about getting flour everywhere (consider it a rite of passage). I love how this recipe lines up with so many baking trends—quick and easy recipes, vegan easy recipes, even air fryer easy recipes if you tweak the method. It gives the same vibes as homemade pretzels soft easy recipes or butter swim biscuits easy recipes—warm, inviting, and just a bit rustic in the best way. If your kitchen’s missing the smell of baking bread, this is your sign. Let’s get our hands in some dough and make something magical.