Savory Herb & Cheese Twist Bread

An adaptable recipe that takes advantage of whatever herbs & cheese you have available in your kitchen - no grocery trip necessary - and proves why you should always keep some instant yeast on hand.

It’s no wonder why so many folks are turning to homemade bread as they spend more time at home. The process of making and baking is very satisfying. From working the dough, to the one-of-a-kind smell that fills the house, and that first warm slice slathered with butter... Homemade bread is the definition of comfort food.

This recipe is an easy-to-mix-and-knead-dough that gets rolled up with your choice of herbs and grated cheese and then baked to make an excellent snack or accompaniment to a meal. We went with an herb mix that included dried oregano, parsley, and garlic - and added parmesan cheese. You could use rosemary, basil, or even sub the dried herbs for pesto or chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Get creative with whatever you've got on hand!

Herbs & Cheese Twist Bread

Yield: 1 Loaf

Ingredients For the Bread Dough:

• 1-1/3 cups Warm Water
• 2 tablespoons Sugar
• 1 pkg. Yeast
• 1/4 cup Olive or Vegetable Oil
• 4 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 2 teaspoons Salt

Ingredients For the Filling:

• 1/4 cup Olive Oil or Butter
• 1-1/2 cups Shredded Cheese of choice
• 4 tablespoons Dried Herbs of choice
• 1 teaspoon Salt

Directions:

1. In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together water, sugar and yeast and let sit 10-15 minutes until slightly foamy.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a dough hook (or in a large bowl), stir together the flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and oil all at once and combine on low speed until flour is incorporated (or by hand, stir with a wooden spoon until a rough dough forms).

3. Turn the speed to medium and let knead 7-8 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic and passes the windowpane test. (by hand, place the dough on a lightly floured surface or silicone mat and knead 9-10 minutes until smooth and elastic, adding a little extra flour here and there to help sticking).

4. Place dough in an oiled bowl and cover with oiled plastic wrap or an oiled silicone bowl cover. Let sit at room temperature or in warm place (like a sunny window or on the counter near a warm oven) and let rise 2 hours, or until doubled in volume.

5. Punch down and roll out into a large rectangle, about 11” x 17” on floured surface or silicone mat. Brush with the 1/4 cup olive oil or butter and evenly sprinkle with cheese (we used parmesan), dried herbs (we used a mix of oregano, parsley, and garlic powder) and salt.

6. Roll up, as tightly as possible, starting from the long side. Place the roll seam side down and cut in half, lengthwise, leaving 1 1/2 inches still connected at the top (see photo below).

7. Twist the two sides together and scrunch to fit in a greased loaf pan. (see photos below). Cover again with the oiled plastic wrap or silicone bowl cover and let rise once more for an hour. Place in a 350F oven (remove plastic first) and bake 35-45 minutes, until golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Tent with foil to keep the top from browning too quickly, if needed. Let cool completely before slicing.

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