Delight your senses with this incredibly flavorful homemade garlic and olive bread. Perfect as an appetizer, a side dish for your favorite meal, or simply a delicious snack, this recipe promises a soft, airy loaf infused with aromatic garlic, fresh herbs, savory cheese, and briny olives. Follow these simple steps to bake a bread that will surely impress!
Instructions
- Start by combining flour, yeast, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Create a well in the center, then add warm water and vegetable oil. Knead until you achieve a soft dough that is slightly sticky to the touch.
- Cover the dough and let it proof in a warm place for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, or until its volume has doubled.
- Gently transfer the proofed dough to a lightly floured surface and roll it out to the size of your baking tray. Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover again and let it rest for another 15-20 minutes for a second proofing.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix olive oil, minced garlic, and chopped parsley. Optionally, you can add a pinch of dried oregano or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
- Using a pizza cutter or knife, score the top of the dough to create square or rectangular patterns. Spread the prepared garlic sauce evenly over the entire surface of the dough.
- Sprinkle grated Kasseri cheese (or a similar melting cheese like mozzarella) over the dough, then arrange the sliced olives on top.
- Bake in a preheated 200°C (390°F) oven on the top and bottom heating setting, monitoring closely. If the top browns too quickly, you can loosely cover it with aluminum foil or a baking sheet to prevent the cheese from burning.
- Once the top and bottom are nicely golden brown, remove from the oven. Let it rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!