Italian Tomato Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Heat tomato puree in microwave or on stovetop to 100º F-110ºF. Stir in yeast and sugar; allow to stand 5 minutes. Add onions.
• Combine 4 cups (white and whole wheat) flour, salt, Italian seasoning, basil, garlic powder, black pepper and celery seed in large mixing bowl. Beat in tomato mixture and melted butter. Stir in 1-3/4 cups flour; mix well with electric mixer.
• Knead 5 to 10 minutes on a floured surface until dough is smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl; cover and let rise about 40 minutes or until double.
• Punch down; divide the dough in half. Form each half into a round loaf and place in a greased 9-inch round cake pan, or place both loaves on a greased baking sheet. Cover; let rise about 40 minutes or until double. Brush surface with egg white.
• Bake at 350º F for 40 to 45 minutes. Enjoy!

Steps:

• Heat about 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the chile and garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and cool a couple of minutes.
• Halve the bread across horizontally and toast or char.
• Halve the tomato across horizontally and rub the flesh vigorously into the toasted surface of the bread and season with salt, to taste. If you are garnishing with anchovies skip the salt. Dress the tomato bread with chile oil and garnish with capers, olives and anchovies, if using. Cut into serving portions and serve.

Steps:

• Coat a large wide pot with olive oil over medium heat and add the onions. Season with salt and crushed red pepper, to taste, and cook until the onions are soft and very aromatic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Toss in the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes. Add the wine and cook until it has reduced by half. Stir in the tomatoes, season with salt, to taste, and cook until the tomatoes are really soft and juicy, about 12 to 15 minutes. Toss in the whole basil leaves.
• Working in batches, carefully puree the tomatoes in a blender*. Return the tomato puree to the pot and add the tomato juice and the bread. Cook the soup over medium heat for until the bread has completely lost its shape and the soup is really thick, about 20 minutes. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and serve garnished with grated cheese, basil chiffonade and a drizzle of big fat finishing oil.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the pizza sauce, 1/4 cup butter, egg, salt, basil, 2 cups flour and remaining sugar; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough., Turn onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 15 pieces. Shape each into a 2-in. ball. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Bake at 400° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks. Brush with remaining butter.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a greased, shallow 3 quart baking dish add the cubed garlic bread. Top the bread with tomatoes and 2/3 cup french fried onions.
• In a large bowl add the eggs and milk, beat well. Stir in one cup of mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese and the seasoning.
• Pour mixture over bread cubes and stir gently to coat well.
• Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until custard is just set.
• Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and onions.
• Bake an additional five minutes or until cheese melts and onions are golden brown.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together tomatoes, garlic, salt, lemon zest, and brown sugar. Cook, stirring constantly, until tomatoes release their juices, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
• Cut each half of ciabatta into 2 or 3 pieces. Place cut-side up on a baking sheet, and bake in preheated oven until golden brown.
• Meanwhile, stir lemon juice, olive oil, and pepper into the tomato mixture. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat until mixture is thick, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat, and spread tomato sauce over sliced bread. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Place bread halves, cut-sides up, on baking sheet.
• Mix oil, garlic and seasoning; drizzle over bread. Sprinkle with tomatoes and cheese.
• Bake 10 to 15 min. or until cheese is melted. Cut each bread half crosswise into 10 slices to serve.

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, salt, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Add olive oil and 1 cup plus 6 tablespoons water. Knead on low speed just until dough comes together, about 3 minutes. Let dough rest for 10 minutes. Knead once more on low speed for 10 minutes until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
• Remove dough hook, cover top of mixing bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and let rise in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours (up to 24 hours).
• Meanwhile, for the sauce, add tomatoes to a food processor and roughly puree. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until butter is melted. Add garlic, shallot, oregano, and pepper flakes. Cook and stir until softened and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add pureed tomatoes and season with sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened, about 45 minutes. Season with salt. Remove from heat, bring to room temperature, and refrigerate until dough has finished rising.
• Generously grease the inside of a 13x18-inch rimmed baking sheet with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Remove dough from the refrigerator 2 hours before baking. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form into a flat ball. Transfer ball to the greased baking sheet. Coat the ball on all sides with olive oil using your hands, loosely cover with plastic wrap and let dough rise in a warm spot for 1 hour. The dough should spread out . Carefully stretch and push the dough into the corners and edges of the pan. Cover loosely, and let rise for 1 hour longer.
• Adjust an oven rack to the upper middle position. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• When dough has risen, gently dock center with fingertips and use your hands to create a risen ridge about 1 inch wide around the edge.
• Spread dough generously with sauce, leaving the raised 1-inch edge without the sauce. Bake until edges are lightly browned and crisp, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool at room temperature for at least 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle with Pecorino Romano cheese, cut into slices, and serve.