Simple and Wholesome Dutch Oven Artisan Loaf

There’s something deeply restorative about baking bread. The rhythm of mixing, the patience of rising, the aroma filling your kitchen, it’s a ritual that reconnects you to the essentials. Just flour, water, yeast, and salt, the simplest of ingredients, transformed with time and care.

Much like Pilates, it’s a practice of consistency and flow: small steps that create something strong, nourishing, and sustaining.

With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a loaf that’s crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and full of wholesome goodness. Like a mindful Pilates practice, it’s about patience, consistency, and letting the process unfold naturally.

Ingredients

(Makes 1 Loaf - 12 serves)

3 cups bread flour (or strong plain flour)

1 ½ tsp salt

2 tsp instant or rapid-rise yeast

1 ½ cups warm water

Method

1. Mix the dough
In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and yeast. Add the warm water and stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy, sticky dough forms. No kneading is needed, time and hydration will build the structure naturally.

2. First rise (bulk fermentation)
Cover the bowl with a clean, dry tea towel and let the dough rest at room temperature for 2-3 hours, or until doubled in size and bubbly. For deeper flavour, refrigerate the dough overnight and bake the next day.

3. Shape the dough
Lightly flour your work surface and hands. Gently turn the dough out, fold it over itself a few times, and shape it into a smooth round. Place it seam side down on lightly floured baking paper. Drape a dry towel loosely over the dough and let it rest for 30-45 minutes while you preheat the oven.

4. Preheat the Dutch oven
Place your Dutch oven (with lid) inside the oven and preheat to 230°C (210°C fan) for at least 30 minutes. A hot, preheated Dutch oven ensures a crisp, golden crust.

5. Bake the bread
Carefully remove the hot Dutch oven and remove the lid. Lift the dough by the baking paper and place it inside. Lightly dust the top with flour and make a few quick slashes with a sharp knife or razor blade. Cover and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped underneath.

6. Cool the loaf
Transfer the bread to a wire rack and let it cool for at least 1 hour before slicing. This step is key to setting the crumb and locking in moisture.

Nutrition Snapshot (approx. per serve)

Calories: ~120 kcal

Protein: ~4 g

Fat: ~0.5 g

Carbohydrates: ~24 g

Fibre: ~1 g

Key Nutrients: B vitamins, Selenium, Iron

Optional Nourish Pairings

Avocado & tomato: fibre + Vitamin C for energy and skin health

Cottage cheese & berries: protein + antioxidants for recovery

Nut butter & banana: healthy fats + potassium for sustained energy

Whether it’s for breakfast, a nourishing snack, or a sharing moment with friends and family, this artisan loaf is a simple pleasure that nourishes body and soul.