Mediterranean Pull Apart Bread (Print Version)
Soft, golden bread layered with herbs, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese. Perfect for sharing.
# What You Need:
→ 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 sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add olive oil, salt, and flour to the yeast mixture. Stir until a dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
03 - Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
04 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9-inch round or square baking dish.
05 - Punch down dough and roll out to a 1/2-inch thick rectangle.
06 - Sprinkle evenly with olives, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, parsley, basil, garlic, oregano, and black pepper.
07 - Cut dough into 2-inch squares. Stack squares into small piles, then arrange them standing upright in the baking dish, fitting closely together.
08 - Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using.
09 - Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
10 - Cool for 10 minutes before serving warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The combination of salty feta, briny olives, and sweet sun-dried tomatoes creates layers of flavor that keep everyone coming back for more
- Theres something deeply satisfying about pulling apart warm, herb-scented bread with friends, especially when each piece reveals different pockets of Mediterranean goodness
02 -
- Do not be tempted to add more filling than the recipe calls for, or the dough will not hold together when you try to stack it
- Making sure your dough squares are roughly the same size helps them bake evenly and look more impressive when served
03 -
- If your dough feels too sticky while kneading, add flour one tablespoon at a time until it becomes manageable
- Use a bench scraper to cut the dough squares, it is cleaner than a knife and keeps the filling from getting dragged around