French Bread With Kalamata Olives and Thyme

Name: French Bread With Kalamata Olives and Thyme
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 2 sm loaves
Ingredients: 1 cup whole milk; 2 teaspoons butter; 2 teaspoons sugar; 1/2 cup water, room temperature; 3/4 cup Greek yogurt; 2 teaspoons active dry yeast (for do-ahead version) or 2 teaspoons fast-rising active dry yeast (for same-day version); 3/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives (about 4 ounces pitted) or 3/4 cup other brine-cured black olives (about 4 ounces pitted); 1/2 cup sun-dried tomato; 2 garlic cloves, chopped (or minced); 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme; 2 teaspoons salt; 4 cups all-purpose flour (or more if needed); olive oil; 1 egg white, beaten to blend

Submitted by Annacia

"The recipe calls for spraying the oven with water (Simply use a spray bottle with tap water says the recipe) because extra humidity makes the outside of the bread crusty. You can also use an oven proof skillet with about 2 cups of boiling water in it, just place it on the floor of the oven before adding the bread to bake. Makes 2 small loaves. Please note that this asks that the bread be all hand made but I used my stand mixer with the dough hook and the bread turned out great. The 40 min prep includes rising time."

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Ready In:: 1hr 20mins
Ingredients:: 14
Yields:: 2 sm loaves

ingredients

1 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons butter
2 teaspoons sugar
¹⁄₂ cup water, room temperature
³⁄₄ cup Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons active dry yeast (for do-ahead version) or 2 teaspoons fast-rising active dry yeast (for same-day version)
³⁄₄ cup chopped pitted kalamata olives (about 4 ounces pitted) or 3/4 cup other brine-cured black olives (about 4 ounces pitted)
¹⁄₂ cup sun-dried tomato
2 garlic cloves, chopped (or minced)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
2 teaspoons salt
4 cups all-purpose flour (or more if needed)
olive oil
1 egg white, beaten to blend

directions

Bring milk to simmer in small saucepan. Add butter and sugar; stir until butter melts. Pour mixture into large bowl. Add 1/2 cup room-temperature water, the Greek yogurt and cool mixture until lukewarm (85°F to 95°F), about 10 minutes.
Add yeast; stir to blend. Stir in olives, tomatoes, garlic, thyme and salt. Add 1 cup flour. Using wood spoon, stir until flour is incorporated. Add 3 cups flour, 1 cup at a time, and stir vigorously with wood spoon until incorporated after each addition. If necessary, add up to 1/2 cup more flour until dough is smooth and begins to pull away from sides of bowl.
Oil large bowl. Transfer dough to bowl; turn to coat with oil. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap. For do-ahead version: Chill dough overnight. For same-day version: Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes (do not punch down dough).
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 500°F Oil large baking sheet. Turn dough out onto floured work surface (to avoid deflating, do not punch down dough and do not knead dough). Divide dough into 2 equal pieces. Gently form (do not knead) each piece into baguette 15 inches long by 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches wide (dough will not be smooth).
Transfer baguettes to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly apart. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm draft-free area until slightly puffed, about 30 minutes for refrigerated dough and 15 minutes for room-temperature dough.
Brush top of each loaf lightly with egg white. Generously spray inside of oven with water (about 8 sprays); immediately place loaves in oven. Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 400°F and continue to bake until loaves are deep golden and sound hollow when tapped, about 35 minutes. Cool on rack.
TIP:
Oil your hands before starting to work with the dough. It really helps.