Mediterranean Homemade French Bread

This Mediterranean Homemade French Bread has a crisp and golden crust. We prepare this bread with flour, yeast, olive oil, honey, sea salt, oregano, rosemary, garlic powder, and optional sesame seeds. This bread has approximately 170 calories and 31 g of net carbs. We make this bread in about 2 hours. This Mediterranean Homemade French Bread is ideal for family meals, dinner parties, soups, salads, grilled chicken, seafood, Mediterranean dips, sandwiches, and cozy homemade dinners. You can prepare this bread earlier because we refrigerate it for 4 days and freeze it for almost 3 months. You can serve this bread with Hummus, Tzatziki, Baba Ganoush, Greek Salad, or Grilled Chicken.

STATS:

• Course: Bread, Side Dish
• No. of Calories: 170 kcal
• Diet: Mediterranean
• Prep time: 25 minutes
• Cuisine: Mediterranean, French
• Cook time: 30 minutes
• Portion size: 1 slice
• Cooking mode: Baking
• Total servings: 12
• Difficulty level: Easy
• Total time: 2 hours

TOOLS:

• Bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Wooden spoon
• Tray
• Baking paper
• Knife
• Pastry brush
• Cooling rack

INGREDIENTS:

FRENCH BREAD:

• 3 cups flour
• 1¼ cups warm water
• 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp oregano
• ½ tsp rosemary
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds

INGREDIENT NOTES AND THEIR SUBSTITUTIONS:

FLOUR:

• We use all-purpose flour to create a soft and airy bread with a golden crust.

OLIVE OIL:

• Extra-virgin olive oil provides richness and a Mediterranean flavor. Regular olive oil can also be used.

HONEY:

• Honey provides mild sweetness and helps the yeast activate. As another choice, we could utilize one tsp. of sugar.

OREGANO:

• Oregano adds a classic Mediterranean herbal flavor. Italian seasoning might be utilized as a further choice.

ROSEMARY:

• Rosemary gives the bread a fragrant herbal flavor. Fresh rosemary could be utilize as a different option for dried rosemary.

GARLIC POWDER:

• The bread gains a subtle savory flavor from the garlic powder. A small amount of fresh minced garlic can also be used.

SESAME SEEDS:

• We use sesame seeds for a nutty flavor and attractive golden topping. As a different choice, you might utilize sunflower seeds or leave them out.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Mix the honey, yeast, and warm water, and cool the mixture for almost ten minutes.
2. Include the garlic powder, flour, rosemary, salt, and oregano.
3. Apply the olive oil and knead the dough for almost ten minutes till smooth.
4. Wrap the dough and leave it to rise for almost seventy-five minutes.
5. We shape the dough into a long loaf and put it on a coated tray.
6. Cool the shaped loaf for almost thirty minutes.
7. Make four diagonal cuts on the surface.
8. Coat the loaf with olive oil and garnish with sesame seeds.
9. Bake at 220°Celcius for almost thirty minutes till golden brown.
10. Cool for about twenty minutes, make slices, and then serve.

TIPS:

• We utilize warm, although not hot, water for the yeast.
• Do not include extra flour, as it will make the bread dense.
• Include a little steam in the oven to get a crispier crust.
• Cool the bread first and then make slices.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

MEDITERRANEAN DIPS:

• Hummus
• Tzatziki
• Baba Ganoush
• Whipped Feta
• Olive Tapenade

MAIN DISHES:

• Grilled Chicken
• Lemon Herb Salmon
• Chicken Souvlaki
• Baked Cod
• Garlic Shrimp

SALADS & SIDES:

• Greek Salad
• Fattoush Salad
• Chickpea Salad
• Tomato Cucumber Salad
• Roasted Vegetables

STORAGE INFORMATION:

FRIDGE:

• Put the cooled bread in an airtight box and refrigerate it for 4 days.

FREEZER:

• Slice the bread, put the baking paper between the slices, and store it in a closed bag for almost 3 months.

FAQs:

May we utilize whole-wheat flour?

• Yes, you can alternate up to 1/2 of the all-purpose flour with whole-wheat flour.

Could we utilize instant yeast?

• Yes, you may include instant yeast in a similar amount.

Will we prepare this bread earlier?

• Yes, you can chill the prepared dough for a night, make shapes, and then bake.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Proteins: 5 g

Caloric Content: 170 kcal

Net carbs: 31 g

Sodium: 200 mg

Fiber: 1.2 g

Sugar: 1.2 g

Fats: 2.5 g

Portion Size: 1 slice

Total carbs: 32 g