Homemade Mediterranean Olive Bread

This Homemade Mediterranean Olive Bread is tasty and easy to make. The perfect crust with a soft crumb. Delicious served with dinner, as an appetizer or even eaten for snack. Nothing like the smell and taste of homemade bread.

 

This is nothing like bread baking in the oven, especially Olive Bread, what an amazing smell and then that taste! Delicious. Lately I have been making a lot of kinds of breads, I have always made my own pizza dough and once in awhile focaccia. If you love making bread then you should take a look at my new site All Things Bread and … Here’s to bread making!

How to make it

In the standup mixer or large bowl add the lukewarm water and sprinkle the yeast on top, let sit 5-10 minutes then stir to combine. Add the flour, salt and olive oil. Knead on speed #1 until just combined, add the chopped olives.

Knead on speed #2, until dough is compact and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Place the dough on a lightly floured flat surface and knead a few times to form a ball, place in a lightly oiled bowl, roll the dough to cover lightly with the oil, cover the bowl and let rise in a warm draft free area approximately 2 hours or doubled in bulk.

Place the dough on a lightly floured flat surface and knead a few times, roughly flatten the dough then fold into the desired shape, sprinkle with flour (rice, semolina or bread/all purpose). Cover the dough and let rise in a warm draft free area. Pre-heat the oven.

Score the dough, the bread can be baked directly on the cookie sheet, on a pizza stone or place in a dutch oven cover and bake. If using a pizza stone or cookie sheet, place an empty cake pan on the bottom of the oven while the oven is pre-heating.

Place the bread in the oven, pour a cup of boiling water into the cake pan, and bake. The bread can also be baked in a dutch oven (no knead to pre-heat it).

What is the best flour to use

This recipe is specific to either all-purpose or bread flour. You can actually use either one and get very similar results. I usually reach for the bread flour, it has a higher protein percentage which means that it has more gluten in it, the dough will be more elastic and light, and will have a chewier and airy texture when baked.

How to get a crusty crust

There are a couple of ways to get a crusty crust, one is to bake the bread on a pre-heated pizza stone or place an upside down cookie sheet in the oven while pre-heated and two – add steam to the oven, the easiest way is to place an empty pan in the oven while pre-heating and after you have place the bread on the stone or cookie sheet, add a cup of boiling water to the pan, immediately close the oven and let the baking begin.

Of course if you decide to bake your bread in a dutch oven there is no need to add a pan with water. There is also no need to pre-heat your dutch oven while the oven is pre-heating!

How to store and freeze it

If you haven’t cut your loaf yet, you can keep it on your counter at room temperature untouched. Once sliced, to avoid moisture loss and having your bread becoming stale quickly, wrap in plastic wrap or an airtight container and keep at room temperature for up to 4 days. Never refrigerate the bread it will dry it out.

Freezing homemade bread is great if you’ve made an extra loaf or if you have leftovers. Once completely cooled, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer safe bag for up to 6 months.

Can I use instant yeast?

Yes you can, for every teaspoon of active dry yeast substitute with 3/4 teaspoon of instant yeast.

Make sure your yeast is active

Test your yeast prior to using it. If it is not active, discard and use fresh. To test it, allow it to proof, as directed in the recipe. If it doesn’t become foamy it means it is no longer alive and needs to be swapped for fresh yeast.

But when I do make bread I always ask myself “why don’t I do this more often”? It is quite easy, not too much work especially if you use a machine with a hook attachment. Which I must say is what I always fall back on these days.

Let the machine do all the work, and then wait and watch it grow!

More Homemade Bread Recipes you may enjoy!

• Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bagels
• Traditional Italian Ciabatta Bread
• Everyday Sandwich Bread
• Homemade Pancetta Walnut Bread

This Rustic Olive Bread is a great accompaniment for lunch or dinner or just ask my daughter, she has eaten almost half of it by itself for a snack! Happy Bread Baking.

Updated from January 5, 2018.