In a large bowl, combine the warm water, yeast and salt and whisk
Let sit for 5 minutes or until foamy (see Note 2)
Add the flour and discard to the yeast mixture
Mix with a wooden spatula or by hand until a rough, sticky dough forms (if you want to add any cheese, herbs or any other inclusions to the bread, mix them in now)
Cover and allow to rise for 2 hours or until doubled in size (or up to 3 hours if the environment is cold)
When the dough has doubled in size, preheat oven to 450℉ and set aside a large piece of parchment paper
When the oven is preheated, place the empty Dutch oven or pot inside without the lid (see Note 3)
Lightly flour a large work surface and turn out the dough
Pinch the outside of the dough and fold towards the center 4-5 times then flip over to form a smooth ball (or just shape with your hands)
Carefully remove the Dutch oven or pot from the oven
Place the dough ball over the parchment paper then transfer to the hot Dutch oven
Bake for 30 minutes covered, then uncover and bake for another 15-20 minutes until golden
To test for doneness, flip the loaf over and tap the bottom; it should sound hollow
Allow to rest for at least 45 minutes before slicing
Note 1: Use a thermometer to sure the water is between 100℉ and 110℉. If the water is too cold, the yeast won't activate. If the water is too hot, it will kill the yeast. If you don't have a thermometer, test the water on your wrist. It should feel warm, but not hot.Note 2: You don't need to let instant yeast bloom, but I prefer to let it sit until foamy before adding it to my dough to ensure it's active. This way, you'll know right away if there's an issue with the yeast instead of later on when your dough doesn't rise correctly. I also normally keep my discard in the fridge so blooming the yeast first helps ensure I don't have any issues from adding cold discard to the dough.Note 3: If you don't have a Dutch oven, you can use any large oven-safe pot with a lid such as a stainless steel pot.Note 4: This bread is delicious on its own, but you can also add in shredded or cubed cheese, fresh or dried herbs, chopped olives, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes or any other inclusions of your choice.Nutrition Facts are calculated automatically and may be inaccurate.