Feta, Olive and Basil Bread

Feta, Olive and Basil Bread

Feta, Olive and Basil Bread is a homemade bread which is stuffed with feta, olives and basil. Superbly delicious, goes well with a hearty salad or soup. Makes a good bread to carry for lunch, picnics or even when you’re travelling.

Fresh Basil or Dried?

While fresh basil would have been a better option, I didn’t have any so used the dried version. I’ve also tried the stuffing with other herbs and it tastes equally good. So, go ahead and use a herb of your choice.

Plain Flour or Whole Wheat Flour?

The first time I baked this bread, I used all purpose flour only. Nowadays, I prefer to use wholewheat flour and add just a little of the plain flour. Use whichever you prefer.

What Kind Of Olives Should You Use?

Any of your choice, green black, kalamata, mixed.

Here are Some Recipes Where I Love To Use Feta Cheese

Since mid January 2014, I have been having some teeth problems. Can I blame my 50+ age, approaching menopause or genes? Since childhood I have been pretty regular with brushing, flossing, mouth washes, etc. By the way after all these years of bombarding people with adverts of the benefits of mouth washes, some health gurus claim that mouth washes are actually bad for our teeth.

Whatever, its just given me an excuse to stop buying those expensive, coloured, gum burning liquids and go back to the salted water gargle.

So during my umpteen visit to the dentist, I came across a recipe of bread with feta,olives and basil in a home living magazine. Mentally noted what the filling was all about and went to sit on the dental chair. Next day, I thought I better bake the bread before I forget about it.

In spite of the extremely hot weather, I kneaded the dough for 12 minutes non stop…. yes good workout for the arms (though my arms still appear as though I am a sumo wrestler!). After the task of kneading the bread was over, I looked as though I have just come out of the sauna…. dripping wet!

So here’s the recipe of my hard workout and by the way toothache is less now. Yes it seems old age is catching up fast and my siblings are teasing me that I pretty soon may have dentures. Dentures can wait but not the baking bug.

Ingredients Required For Feta, Olive and Basil Bread

• Flours – wholewheat and all purpose or bread flour
• Yeast – I prefer to use dry active instant yeast. If you don’t use the instant version then you will need to ferment the dry yeast in some warm liquid for 10 minutes. Add the yeast and sugar to the warm water. Stir and allow it to ferment before adding to the flour mixture.
• Salt – add less as the feta cheese and olives taste salty.
• Sugar – need a little for the yeast to ferment.
• Olive Oil – to add to the dough and extra for brushing and applying to the dough.
• Warm Water – lukewarm water.
• Feta Cheese – crumbled
• Olives – use any kind of your choice. Slice or chop them up roughly.
• Basil – I have used dried basil.
• Garlic Paste – add according to your taste.
• Pepper – coarse pepper powder

A little request:

If you do try this recipe then please either

• add a comment below,
• send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
•  tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
• or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962