Oh, Sun-Dried Tomato Bread? That’s like a big, crusty hug in loaf form, baked until it’s the perfect shade of gold. Seriously, grab a chunk, slap some butter on it, or stack it up with all the sandwich toppings you love. Every single time I stroll by this bread, I can’t help but tear off a bite. It’s just too tasty to resist!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Serves: about 6 depending on how thick your slices are
Ingredients:
3 1/2 C. All-purpose flour
1 tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Active dry yeast
1 tsp. Garlic, minced
4 tsp. Dried basil
2 C. Shredded Parmesan or Pacarino cheese
1/3 C. Chopped oil-packed sun dried tomatoes, drained
2 C. Water (temperature should be between 110 -120 degrees)
What to do:
In a big bowl, mix the flour, salt, yeast, garlic, basil, cheese, and tomatoes together. Pour water into the bowl and, using a spatula or a wooden spoon, mix it until well incorporated and until no dry flour remains. The mixture will be wet, shaggy, and very sticky to the touch.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit on your counter for 12 to 24 hours. The dough will bubble up, flatten on top, and rise.
After the dough is ready, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place your Dutch oven, with the lid, into the preheated oven for 30 minutes. While this is happening, get your dough ready.
Punch down the dough. Generously flour a sheet of parchment paper, transfer the dough to parchment, and with floured hands, shape it into a ball by only folding the dough over on itself a few times. Top the dough with plastic wrap (making sure to spray the dough with nonstick cooking spray before covering it with plastic, or it will stick), or you can use a clean dish towel to let it rise for 30 minutes.
Carefully remove the Dutch oven from the oven and remove the lid (be careful, it’s very hot!). Place parchment paper with dough into the Dutch oven and replace the lid. Bake for 45 minutes with the lid on, after which remove the lid and bake for another 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
Remove the bread from the pot; it should come out easily. Let cool completely before slicing into it and serving.