Savory Cheese and Chive Bread
(from saymyname’s recipe box)
Source: In 'Around My French Table' by Dorie Greenspan
Serves 8 peopleCategories: Quick Bread, Side Dish
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2-1 teaspoon salt (depending on what cheese and add-ins you are using)
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper (or more to taste, you could add a pinch of cayenne)
- 3 large eggs , at room temperature
- 1/3 cup whole milk , at room temperature
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup coarsely grated cheese (about 4 ounces, Gruyere, Comte, Emmenthal, or Cheddar)
- 2 ounces cheese , cut into very small cubes (Gruyere, Comte, Emmenthal, or Cheddar, about 1/2-2/3 cup)
- 1/2 cup minced fresh chives (or other herbs, or thinly sliced scallions)
- 1/3 cup toasted walnuts , chopped (optional)
Directions
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Center a rack in the oven; preheat oven to 350°; generously butter an 8 × 4 1/2 × 2 3/4-inch loaf pan (a Pyrex pan is perfect; if your pan is larger, go ahead and use it, but your loaf will be lower and you’ll have to check it for doneness a little earlier).
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Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and white pepper together in a big bowl.
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Put the eggs in another bowl and whisk for about 1 minute, until they are foamy and blended; whisk in the milk and olive oil.
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Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and , using a sturdy rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, gently mix until the dough comes together; there is no need to be energetic (beating the dough toughens it); nor do you need to be very thorough, just stir until all the dry ingredients are moistened.
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Stir in the cheese, grated and cubed, the herbs, and walnuts (you will have a thick dough).
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Turn the dough into the prepared pan and even the top with the back of the spatula or spoon.
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Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the bread is golden and a slender knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
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Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and wait for about 3 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the pan and turn the loaf over the rack; invert and cool right side up.
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Dorie suggests if serving with drinks/wine—cut bread into 8 slices, about 1/2 inch thick, and cut the slices into strips or cubes.
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Well wrapped, the loaf will keep for about 2 days at room temperature or for up to 2 months in the freezer (thaw in the wrapper).
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**This is not a very moist loaf—it is not meant to be—so it may seem a little dry after a couple of days; it is good to toast the slices.