Olive Oil Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Tip the flour into a mixing bowl. For easy-blend dried yeast, stir this into the flour. For fresh yeast, crumble it and rub into the flour as you would with butter when making pastry. Add the salt and sugar.
• Boil the kettle and measure 100ml into a jug. Top up with cold water to the 300ml mark. Test the temperature with your finger - it should feel perfectly hand-hot. Add the oil.
• Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid all at once. Mix quickly using your hands or a wooden fork to make a soft and slightly sticky dough. Wipe the dough around the bowl to pick up any loose flour.
• Sprinkle the work surface with flour and tip out the dough. Knead by stretching it away from you, then folding it in half towards you and pushing it away with the heel of your hand. Give it a quarter turn and repeat, developing a rhythm.
• When the dough is smooth, put it back into the mixing bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave to rest for 1 hr (no need to find a warm place). The dough is ready when it springs back when you press it with your finger. (At this stage, you can add other flavourings - see 'Goes well with', right).
• Tip dough onto a floured surface, knead to remove air bubbles. Shape into a round, place on an oiled baking sheet and slash top with sharp knife. Cover and rise for 30 mins. Heat oven to 240C/220C fan/gas 8. Bake for 30-35 mins until browned and crisp.

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together the warm water (110 degrees), yeast, sugar, salt, and olive oil. Stir in 2 cups of the flour in order to make a soft ball. Knead in additional flour so that dough is soft and not sticky. Place kneaded dough in a medium size greased bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled in size.
• Punch down dough, and form into ball or loaf shape. Place onto a greased cookie sheet. Cover and let rise for 15 to 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until golden brown.

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together the warm water, yeast, sugar, salt, and olive oil.
• Stir in 2 cups of the flour in order to make a soft ball.
• Knead in additional flour so that dough is soft and not sticky.
• Place kneaded dough in a medium size greased bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled in size.
• Punch down dough, and form into ball or loaf shape.
• Place onto a greased cookie sheet.
• Cover and let rise for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until golden brown.

Steps:

• Stir together the olive oil, basil, parsley, garlic, thyme, oregano, black pepper, rosemary, salt, red pepper, and lemon juice in a bowl. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the surface of the oil mixture.

Steps:

• Combine the flour, yeast, and salt in a food processor. Turn on the machine and add the olive oil through the feed tube, followed by 3/4 cup water. Process for about 30 seconds, adding more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture forms a ball and is slightly sticky to the touch.
• Turn the dough onto a floured work surface and, by hand, knead in the rosemary until the dough feels smooth. Put it in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until the dough doubles in size, about 2 hours. (You can cut this rising time as short as 1 hour if you are in a hurry, or you can let the dough rise more slowly, in the refrigerator, for up to 8 hours. At this point, you may also wrap the dough tightly in plastic and freeze for up to a month; defrost in a covered bowl in the refrigerator or at room temperature.)
• Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Shape the dough into a boule, sprinkling with flour as necessary but keeping it to a minimum. Line a colander or large bowl with a well-floured kitchen towel, set the loaf in the bowl, and cover with another towel (this keeps it from spreading too much). Let the dough rise for at least an hour and preferably longer, up to 2 hours.
• About 45 minutes before the dough has risen, heat the oven to 425°F. Put an ovenproof skillet (preferably cast iron) on the floor or the lowest rack while the oven heats. If you're using a baking stone, put it on the rack above the skillet while the oven heats; if not, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Once you're ready to bake, slide or turn the dough out onto a lightly floured peel or flexible cutting board, seam side down, or just transfer it to the prepared baking sheet. Rub the loaf with a little flour (this helps prevent scorching) and slash the top with a sharp knife or razor blade. Use the peel or cutting board to slide the loaf onto the baking stone or slide the baking sheet into the oven. Partially pull out the rack with the heated skillet and very carefully pour 1 cup hot water into the skillet (it will create a lot of steam). Slide the rack back in and immediately close the oven door
• Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, turning the bread or the baking sheet halfway through, until the crust is golden brown, the bottom sounds hollow when tapped, and the internal temperature reaches 200°F on a quick-read thermometer. If the bread is browning too quickly, lower the temperature to 400°F. Remove and cool on a wire rack.
• Variations:
• Rosemary Olive Oil Bread With Olives or Tomatoes: In Step 2, knead 1 cup halved pitted oil-cured olives, roughly chopped dried tomatoes, or a combination into the dough along with the rosemary.
• Olive Oil Bread With Onions and Mint: A nice combo; you can make this with olives too (see the preceding variation), but omit the rosemary. In Step 2, knead 1 large onion, chopped, into the dough in place of or along with the olives. Add 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint if you like.
• Pancetta and Black Pepper Bread: Rich, savory, and packed with flavor: You can use olive oil here if you'd rather not use the pancetta pan drippings: Omit the rosemary. Chop 1 pound pancetta (or bacon) and cook until it's crisp. Drain the meat and set it aside, reserving 1/3 cup of the rendered fat. If you don't have enough, add olive oil or good-quality lard to make up the balance. Proceed with the recipe, using the reserved fat in place of the oil. In Step 2, knead in the pancetta pieces and 2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper.

Steps:

• Pour the olive oil onto a salad plate. Use a garlic press to press the garlic cloves onto five different spots on the plate. Drizzle the balsamic vinegar over the oil and garlic. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and oregano. Season with black pepper.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In the bowl of a standing mixing michine, whisk the yeast with the water and milk. Let the mixture stand for about 5 minutes, or until the yeast has dissolved. Whisk in the sugar, 1/2 cup of cornmeal and tapenade. Add the flour. Using a dough hook and the machine on low, mix until the dough starts to come together. Increase the speed and continue mixing until the dough comes away from the sides and crawls up the dough hook. Turn the dough out into a greased bowl and cover. Let the dough rise until double in size. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, punch down and divide the dough in half. Shape each half into individual loaves. Sprinkle the baking sheet with the remaining cornmeal. Place the loaves on the baking sheet. Cover the loaves and let the dough rise until double in size. Using a sharp knife, make several slits across the top of the loaves. Bake the loaves for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Serve the hot bread with olive oil, Proscuitto, cheese and basil.

Steps:

• To make the sponge, place the yeast and water into a medium sized bowl, and stir to dissolve yeast. Add the flour and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon or your hands for 2 to 3 minutes, until smooth, until a somewhat elastic dough has formed. The starter will be thick and stretchy.
• Scrape the starter into a clear container with high sides and cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise.
• At this point you have two options. If you plan to make the dough later the same day, let the sponge rise at room temperature until it has risen to the point where it just begins to indent on top. This may take 6 to 8 hours. It will triple in volume and very small dents and folds will begin to appear in the top of the surface as it reaches its peak and begins to deflate. Make sure to use it before it sinks too much.
• If you are not planning to make the dough until the next day, let the sponge rise for 1 hour after mixing, then place it in the refrigerator and let it rise for at least 14 hours before taking it out to use. Be sure to compensate for the cold temperature of the starter by using warm water in the dough, or let it sit out, covered, until it reaches room temperature.
• To make the dough, place the yeast and water in a large bowl. Stir the yeast so it dissolves, and allow to stand for 1 minute.
• Add the sponge to the yeast mixture, and mix with your hands for 1 minute to break up the sponge. The mixture should be foamy. Add the flour and mix it in with your hands, lifting the wet mixture over the flour to incorporate it. Once the dough becomes a shaggy mass, knead in the bowl for 1 minute. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.
• Add the salt to the dough and knead briefly to incorporate. Gradually add the oil and milk, and knead gently until all the liquid has been incorporated.
• Move the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until it begins to become smooth, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. The dough will be sticky, so keep the work surface lightly floured.
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turn the dough to coat it, and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise until almost double in size, approximately 2 hours.
• To make the olive bread, place the dough on a lightly floured surface, spread the dough out gently, and then spread the chopped olives all over the surface. Roll the dough up, and let it rest for 1 hour.
• Line 2 (8-inch square) pans with parchment brushed with olive oil.
• When the dough has risen, loosen it from the bowl with lightly floured hands, and pour it onto a floured surface. Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Shape each piece into log shapes, pressing the olives into the dough, and sealing the seams. Place on a floured cloth to rise for 1 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place the loaves onto a peel coated with cornmeal and slide onto a preheated baking stone, or place the loaves onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper, and place it in the oven. Mist the loaves with water from a spray bottle, and shut the oven door. Mist again 1 minute later.
• Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees F, and bake for 15 to 25 minutes longer, or until golden brown and crusty.
• Remove the olive bread from the oven immediately and let cool on a cooling rack.
• This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The FN chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°; grease an 8-inch skillet or square baking pan with about a tablespoon of olive oil.
• Put the flour, baking powder, and salt in a food processor and turn the machine on.
• Pour through the feed tube first 1/3 cup of the olive oil, then most of 1 cup of warm water.
• Process about 30 seconds, then remove the cover; the dough should be in a well-defined, barely sticky, easy-to-handle ball; if it is too dry, add the remaining water 1 tablespoon at a time and process for 5-10 seconds after each addition; if it is too wet, which is unlikely, add a tablespoon or two of flour and process briefly.
• Put the dough into the prepared pan and press until it fits to the edges.
• Flip it over and press again; cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes; then remove the foil; sprinkle the top with a little coarse salt, and bake for another 20-25 minutes, until the top is golden and springs back when touched gently.
• Cool in the pan a bit, then cut into wedges or squares and serve.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Lightly coat a loaf pan with vegetable cooking spray.
• Stir together flour, sugar, walnuts, baking powder, rosemary, salt and lemon zest in bowl.
• In a separate bowl, mix eggs, wine, and olive oil, then stir into dry ingredients.
• Transfer the batter into pan and smooth the surface.
• Bake 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Steps:

• Pour olive oil in a bowl and add sun dried tomato paste.
• Pour basil, thyme, and rosemary into the palm of your hand and then crush the spices by rolling them in between your thumb and pointer finger. Add to the oil mixture.
• Add the garlic and pepper (and salt if you are using it).
• Using a fork, stir/mix the spices into the oil.
• Allow to sit at room temp for about 4 hours for the flavors to start to blend if you have time. Otherwise, go ahead and serve it right away.

Steps:

• Pre heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
• Cut bread into 1.5 cm thick slices but do not cut all the way through.
• Place oil, lemon rind, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper into a bowl.
• Mix well, brush over both sides of each slice of bread.
• Wrap bread tightly in foil.
• Place on baking tray.
• Bake 20 - 25 minutes or till hot.
• Slice all the way through and serve.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the oil, sugar, salt and 2 cups flour. 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 hour., Punch dough down. Roll into a 16-in. x 12-in. rectangle. Sprinkle olives to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seams to seal and tuck ends under. Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 20 minutes., Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.