fill 'er up ... but with what?

March 13, 2010 5:22 PM

help me find new things to bake into bread. not just any bread, mind you, but stuffed/filled bread.

i've had GREAT success with this spicy spiral bread and a variation of this galette from the king arthur flour site. the first uses refried beans & black beans which is rolled into a log and baked. it's delish. the 2nd is more of an open(ish) pie, which i typically fill with a spinach ricotta mix & top with sliced tomatoes. VERY good. everyone who's tried them loves them. so ... i'd love to find more recipes like this, preferably something that is relatively easy (i'm not much of a baker, actually) & is good n' tasty. anyone have any recipes or ideas? thanks.

posted by msconduct to food & drink (8 answers total)

There's a bakery in Sydney that makes bread studded with caramelised garlic cloves. It's exquisite - just grill it with some butter and voila, instant garlic bread.
posted by embrangled at 5:28 PM on March 13, 2010

Sorry, 'grill' in my part of the world is 'broil' to everyone else.
posted by embrangled at 5:33 PM on March 13, 2010

There is a restaurant in Pasadena, CA called Julienne that makes the most amazing rosemary and raisin bread. I never would have thought to put those two things together, but it's outstanding.

I haven't tried this version I found online, but it's the same concept.
posted by cecic at 5:44 PM on March 13, 2010

Pizza Rustica is a fun stuffed bread that I first tried from a bread machine cookbook I no longer own. It is easier than you think and results in pizza-type filling completely enclosed by a dough crust, not open at the top like deep dish. A recipe like this is worth a try. Tasty and impressive!
posted by TrarNoir at 5:55 PM on March 13, 2010

Parent bread recipe:
Mix flour and water with a pinch of salt and yeast until elastic, about ten minutes. Let rise. Punch down. Rest for an hour. Shape as a ball. Score. Bake in a Dutch oven with loose flour at 450 for 30 mins covered, and then uncovered for 15 mins. The Dutch over provides moisture most bakers provide through spritzing.

Suggestions:
1. Brush bread with a whisked egg for a dark crust.
2. Squeeze lemon over cold pizza. Really.

Alternatives:
3. Ciabatta: Shape as Ciabatta. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes, then 375 for 30 minutes.
4. Baguette: Shape as a Baguette. Bake 450 for 10 minutes, then 375 for 40 to 50 minutes.
5. Pizza: Half the yeast, olive oil, a little honey, and roll out. 500 for 10 – 20 minutes. Fold over ingredients for a Calzone or roll them for a Stromboli.
6. Brioche Buns: Rub 2 ½ tblspns butter into flour mix until crumbs form. Stir in an egg. Make balls of dough. Bake covered until browned, about 15 minutes.

Bread stuffings:
o Olives & Walnuts
o Herbs & Roast Garlic
o Chocolate & Dried Cherries
o Jalapeños & Corn
o Chipotle Chiles in Adobo & Corn
o Browned White Onions & Parmigian

Pizza variants (any of these can be baked in bread, but some are better as pizza):
o Pesto, Sage, Fontina, Asiago, Mushroom
o Egg & Asparagus
o Oregano, Anchovies, Garlic
o Mushroom, Prosciutto, Artichoke, Olives, Egg
o Capers & Olives
o Green olives, Eggs, Peas
o Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Ricotta, Parmigian
o Tuna packed in olive oil, Olives
o Tuna, Red onions
o 2 Peppers, Onion, Oregano
o Swiss/Mozzarella, Potato cubes, Pancetta, Oregano
o Anchovie, Garlic, Onion, Oregano, Basil
o Arugula, Mozzarella, Proscuitto
o Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Pears, Walnuts, Proscuitto, Honey.

Calzone variants:
o Ricotta, Egg, Cheese w/ any vegetable or meat.
posted by xammerboy at 6:34 PM on March 13, 2010 [5 favorites]

CHEDDAR CHEESE.

Rosemary and garlic is pretty good, too!
posted by ErikaB at 8:19 PM on March 13, 2010

Nutella.
posted by sister nunchaku of love and mercy at 10:22 PM on March 13, 2010

My mom rolls in pepperoni and mozzarella cheese (and an egg mixed in with the cheese) to a regular french bread and then bakes it as per instructions on package. Pizza bread!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:17 PM on March 14, 2010