Effortless Rustic Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups warm water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 tablespoons coarse salt
• 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal

Directions

Mix water, yeast, and salt together in a large bowl until mixture becomes foamy, about 10 minutes. Stir flour into yeast mixture until well incorporated. The dough will be loose and look wet. Cover bowl loosely with a damp towel and let sit for about 5 hours.

Shape dough into 2 loaves using damp hands. Place loaves on a cornmeal-dusted work surface and score the tops a few times with a sharp knife. Allow loaves to double in size, 30 to 60 minutes.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place loaves on a baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven, spraying the surface of the dough occasionally with water, until golden brown, about 20 minutes.