by Sarah Steimer
Note: The amounts below make two loaves of bread, so I usually cut this recipe in half.
- 2 3/4 cups lukewarm water
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 6 1/2 cups flour
- choice of toppings/fillings
Combine yeast, salt and sugar. Add olive oil and water. Stir in flour. Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let sit for two hours. In the meantime, prepare toppings/fillings. I went with garlic and some herbs from my garden: chives, basil and oregano.
On a floured surface and flouring the surface of the dough, roll into about a 1/2 inch-thick (doesn’t have to be perfect) rectangle. Add your choice of ingredients (I chopped everything up finely and sprinkled it on). Roll up as if a jellyroll. Press this into a ball then flatten again, making sure to flour the surface as necessary.
Place this onto a sheet of parchment paper and re-flatten if necessary. Flour the blade of a knife and cut 3-inch slits in the dough. I usually do three horizontal slices on the left and three on the right (see picture below). Brush with more olive oil, covering the surface of the bread. I sprinkled Parmesan cheese on top along with some of the garlic and herbs I set aside. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Source: Life’s a Feast blog
Photos: Sarah Stemer
i made this today, used basil and garlic, added a small amount of cheese like suggested….excellent!