Mediterranean Pull Apart Bread (Print)
Soft golden bread with Mediterranean herbs, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta. Perfect party appetizer or savory side.
# Ingredient List:
→ Dough
01 - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
03 - 1 cup warm water (110°F)
04 - 1/4 cup olive oil
05 - 1 tbsp sugar
06 - 1 1/2 tsp salt
→ Mediterranean Filling
07 - 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
08 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped and drained
09 - 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
10 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
11 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
12 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
13 - 1 tsp dried oregano
14 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Topping
15 - 2 tbsp olive oil
16 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds
# How-To Steps:
01 - Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until mixture becomes foamy, indicating yeast activation.
02 - Stir olive oil and salt into yeast mixture. Gradually add flour, stirring until dough forms. Turn onto floured surface and knead for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
03 - Place dough in an oiled bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover with plastic wrap or towel and let rise in warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
04 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9-inch round or square baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
05 - Punch down risen dough to release air. Roll out on floured surface into a 1/2-inch thick rectangle.
06 - Sprinkle dough evenly with olives, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, parsley, basil, garlic, oregano, and black pepper.
07 - Cut filled dough into 2-inch squares. Stack squares into small piles, then arrange standing upright in prepared baking dish, packing tightly together.
08 - Drizzle assembled bread with olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
09 - Allow bread to cool in pan for 10 minutes before serving warm.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The combination of salty olives, sweet sun-dried tomatoes, and creamy feta is basically impossible to stop eating
- Watching guests pull apart warm, cheesy squares at the table is honestly half the fun
02 -
- Really drain those sun-dried tomatoes or youll have soggy spots in the bread
- The dough squares should be standing upright in the pan, not lying flat, for that proper pull-apart effect
03 -
- Use a bench scraper to cut the dough squares for cleaner edges
- Brush the tops with melted butter in the last 5 minutes of baking for extra golden color