What Is Olive Bread?

Olive bread is a perfect serving during your dinner party that can be taken together with cheese. The olive bread will brighten up the guests’ mood. For instance, you do not need kneading or complicated shaping; most of the time, you get your hands off. The olive bread is soft inside and the outside has a crispy crust.

The bread contains olives which should be baked at a lower oven temperature to ensure that the olives do not burn. The olive bread recipe is relatively easy and thus suitable for beginners. Here are some reasons why the olive bread recipe is simple

* The whole process requires only seven ingredients.
* No kneading is required, just like homemade muffins
* You can carry out simple shaping.
* No mixer is required for the process.
* 90% of the activity is entirely hands-off.
* The bread can be baked in a baking sheet or a Dutch oven

When preparing the bread, you will take 4 hours. However, you can prepare the dough three days earlier and allow it to rest in the fridge to get the best recipe.

About ingredients

Here are the main recipe ingredients and why you need them:

1. Bread Flour

All-purpose flour can be used, but it is best to use bread flour for this activity. Using bread flour will produce more robust, chewier bread, and you will note a massive change in the way the bread tastes.

2. Instant yeast

If dry yeast is the only option available, then you can use it. Nevertheless, instant yeast will yield flavorful results quickly. Olive bread preparation requires more yeast than cranberry bread preparation. This is because the dough can rest and rise under average room temperature. Use more yeast to acquire more flavor and rise, and store the dough in the refrigerator. In a calm environment, the fermentation process is slower; thus, better flavors are developed.

3. Salt

It is best to use coarse sea salt since table salt may deny the bread some needed salt flavors.

4. Garlic + herbs

To increase the levels of the flavor in the dough, it is best to use garlic powder and oregano. Below are some types of oregano:

Tarragon has many impressive health benefits, including the potential to reduce blood sugar, inflammation and pain, while improving sleep, appetite and heart health. Not to mention, it’s versatile and can be added to a variety of foods — whether you use fresh or dried varieties.

Wild marjoram grows in the northern alps of Albania and is locally known as red mountain tea. This herbal tea has a delicate taste, layered and warm.
Healing powers? Yes, it helps the body to recover and hydrate, supporting the respiratory system, kidney and liver functions.

Greek oregano tea has unique health benefits. The oregano, apart from the aromatic spice that we put in our food, can do wonders to our health, when used as an herb. Greece is widely known to have the best oregano grade in the world, with powerful antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

5. Olives

There are a variety of olives to use when baking olive bread. On top of the list is the kalamata olives. However, medley olives can come in handy. The olives should be roughly chopped.

6. Water

The best water to use should be warm with yeast since the warmth will speed up the yeast’s function. However, in this particular recipe, room-temperature water is highly recommended. It should be warm and warm. It should be approximately 21 degrees. However, the exact temperatures only matter if the water is not too cold or too warm.

7. Optional cornmeal

If you use a baking sheet, ensure the pan is dusted with cornmeal to gain an incredible flavor crunch. If you do not have cornmeal, use flour and dust the pan. The cornmeal is optional, so do not worry if unavailable.

Baking Sheet or Dutch oven

Baking olive bread with a Dutch oven ensures that steam is trapped inside the pot; thus, the perfect crust is created. To bake large amounts of bread, use the Dutch oven. If a Dutch oven is unavailable, use non-stick baking sheets that are larger in size. Here are ways to bake with both oven methods.

1. Dutch oven

Inside the oven, put a blank Dutch oven with a lid as it gets some heat. Put the dough on a high heat-resistant paper, preferably parchment paper, and fit it inside the bowl. Then cover the dough, and allow it to rest as the oven preheats; place the bowl in the hot Dutch oven before the baking process begins.

2. Baking Sheet

Use cornmeal or flour to dust the pan lightly. Put the dough on the pan and allow it to rest as you wait for the oven to preheat. Afterward, please place it in the oven to begin the baking process.

Tips and tricks for Herb Olive Bread

In most cases, bread and yeast products rise twice the standard size. When you notice the first rise, punch it to let the gas out. Wait for the rise again and punch the bubbles. After the second rise, the dough is ready to be transferred to the oven. When putting the dough inside the oven, it should look similar to baked bread.

In case of leftovers, wrap them tightly in a plastic bag or keep them in a zip lock and freeze. The bread can last for 2-3 days while covered on the countertop without going bad.

Nutrition Information of Herb Olive Bread

One slice of Olive bread contains:

CALORIES 138

FATS 3.7G

* Saturated fats 0.5g
* Polyunsaturated fat 0.5g
* Monounsaturated fat 2.4g

SODIUM 192MG

POTASSIUM 34MG

CARBOHYDRATES 22G

* Dietary Fiber 1g
* Sugars 1.8g

PROTEINS 3.6G

VITAMIN A 0.4%

VITAMIN C 0.1%

CALCIUM 0.7%

IRON 2.5%

What should I serve the olive bread with?

The bread can be taken without any accompaniment. The flavors have a fantastic taste.

You can also serve the bread with a cheese platter, charcuterie, or any Mediterranean-style fare. In addition, serve it with Greek salad and minestrone or pesto shrimp.

Conclusion

Preparing olive bread is an easy task and easy way to welcome your guests for dinner. The ingredients are easy to find and mix. The ingredients are available in the closest stores near you. The bread can be taken without any accompaniment or any above-listed dish. The bread can stay for up to 2-3 days before going bad.