Dried Fig And Hazelnut Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Butter an 8 ½ x 4 ½ x 2 ½ loaf pan, or 4 small loaf pans.
• Line with buttered parchment paper, dust lightly with flour.
• Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl.
• In a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk the eggs until they are combined, then slowly whisk in the dry ingredients.
• Stir in the melted butter until it is thoroughly blended, then fold in the figs, cheese, hazelnuts and pepper, making sure they are well distributed throughout the batter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan or pans and rap it sharply on a work surface to release any air bubbles.
• Bake in the center of the oven until the top of the bread is golden, and a tester stuck in the center comes out clean.(40 to 45 minutes for a single loaf, 30 to 35 minutes for smaller loaves.).
• Remove the bread from the oven and turn it out onto a wire cooling rack. After about 5 minutes, peel off the parchment paper.
• Let cool and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Place the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and toast for 20 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from the oven and pour the hazelnuts onto a clean dishtowel. Fold over the dishtowel and rub the hazelnuts to loosen and remove the skins. Allow to cool completely.
• Place the skinned hazelnuts in a pastry bag or plastic bag and roll over them with a rolling pin, just to break the nuts in half. Set aside. Turn the oven up to 400 degrees. Oil or butter an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 (or 8 x 4)-inch bread pan. Line with parchment, oil or butter the parchment, and dust lightly with flour.
• Sift together the flours, baking powder, sugar, salt and pepper. Stir in the fennel seeds.
• In a large bowl or in the bowl of an electric mixer whisk the eggs until frothy. Whisk in the olive oil and the milk. Add the optional orange zest. Whisk in the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated. Fold in the hazelnuts and chopped figs.
• Scrape the batter into the bread pan. Place in the oven and bake 40 to 45 minutes, until golden and a tester comes out clean. Remove from the oven and turn out onto a rack. Remove the parchment after 5 minutes and allow to cool completely. To serve, cut in thin slices and cut the slices in half on the diagonal, or into quarters.