How do I bake a rosemary and lemon zest olive oil bread?

Add a flavorful twist to your bread-making adventures with our Rosemary and Lemon Zest Olive Oil Bread recipe. Delightfully fragrant!

You'll need

Items needed to answer the question, How do I bake a Rosemary and Lemon Zest Olive Oil Bread. Items include: All-Purpose Flour Instant Yeast Sugar Salt Rosemary Leaves (finely chopped) Lemon Zest Warm Water Olive Oil

All-Purpose Flour 3 cups
Instant Yeast 2 teaspoons
Sugar 1 tablespoon
Salt 1 teaspoon
Rosemary Leaves (finely chopped) 2 tablespoons
Lemon Zest 1 tablespoon
Warm Water 1 cup
Olive Oil 2 tablespoons

Take note
Be prepared for the temptation to devour the entire loaf as soon as it comes out of the oven. We've all been there, and it's hard to resist!

1

Gather Your Ingredients

First things first, gather all the necessary ingredients for this delightful bread. You will need: 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of instant yeast, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of rosemary leaves (finely chopped), 1 tablespoon of lemon zest, 1 cup of warm water, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

2

Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, instant yeast, sugar, salt, rosemary leaves, and lemon zest. Give it a good mix, ensuring that all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

3

Add the Wet Ingredients

Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the warm water and olive oil. Now, it's time to get your hands dirty! Use your fingers to mix the wet and dry ingredients together until you form a sticky dough. Embrace the stickiness!

4

Knead, Baby, Knead!

Transfer the sticky dough onto a lightly floured surface. Begin kneading the dough by pushing it forward with the palms of your hands and then folding it back towards yourself. Repeat this process for 8-10 minutes until you have a smooth and elastic dough.

5

Let It Rise

Place the kneaded dough into a greased bowl and cover it with a clean kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise in a warm and cozy spot for about 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in size. Patience is a virtue!

6

Shape It Up

Once the dough has risen, gently punch it down to release any air bubbles. Transfer it to a lightly floured surface and shape it into a round or oval loaf. Don't worry about perfection - embrace the rustic look of homemade bread!

7

Second Rise

Place the shaped loaf onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover it with the kitchen towel again and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes. This second rise will give your bread a lighter and fluffier texture.

8

Preheat and Bake

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Once the dough has finished its second rise, brush it with some olive oil and sprinkle a pinch of salt and rosemary leaves on top. Place it in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

9

Cool and Enjoy

Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for a few minutes. As tempting as it may be, resist the urge to slice into it immediately. Allow the bread to cool completely before cutting into beautiful, aromatic slices. Serve it with some extra olive oil for dipping, and enjoy the heavenly flavors of your Rosemary and Lemon Zest Olive Oil Bread!