Greek Olive Bread
- 3 - 3 1/2 cups bread or 3 -3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 (2 3/4 teaspoon) package active dry yeast or (2 3/4 teaspoon) package fast rising yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup very warm water
- 1 cup coarsely chopped pitted oil-cured olives or 1 cup black olives
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, for brushing
- In a large mixing bowl stir 3 cups of the flour, the yeast, sugar, and salt together.
- Make a hole in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the 2 tablespoons olive oil and the water.
- Stir until all the dry ingredients are moistened.
- Cover and let stand for 15 minutes.
- Sprinkle a work surface with flour.
- Scrape dough out onto the floured surface.
- Dust the top of the dough with flour.
- Knead until the dough is smooth and develops small bubbles just under the surface, about 5 minutes, adding more flour if the dough gets sticky.
- Place in a clean, greased bowl, turning to grease all over.
- Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
- Punch down the dough and pat it into a 1/2 inch thick circle.
- Sprinkle with the olives and cheese.
- Knead the dough lightly to incorporate the ingredients, then shape into a ball.
- Pat out to make a circle 8 inches in diameter.
- Place on a greased baking sheet.
- With a 3-inch round cutter, cut a circle in the center but leave the round of dough in place.
- (You can bake the removed center alongside the bread; it will probably cook faster than the circular loaf.) Brush the dough with the 2 teaspoons of oil.
- Cover and let rise until puffy, 30 to 45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until the crust is a rich golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool the bread on a wire rack before slicing.
- Makes 1 round loaf.
- Beatrice Ojakangas Baking Book.
bread, active dry yeast, sugar, salt, extra virgin olive oil, very warm water, olives, feta cheese, extra virgin olive oil
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/greek-olive-bread-89268 (may not work)