Mediterranean Pull Apart Bread (Print version)
Soft golden bread infused 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
# Directions:
01 - Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until mixture becomes foamy and activated.
02 - Add olive oil, salt, and flour to the yeast mixture. Stir until dough forms, then 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 risen dough and roll out to a 1/2-inch thick rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
06 - Sprinkle dough 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 standing upright in the prepared baking dish, fitting closely together.
08 - Drizzle assembled bread with olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
09 - Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
10 - Cool for 10 minutes before serving warm.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- The dough becomes incredibly tender from the olive oil, creating that perfect pillowy texture that pulls apart in warm, buttery layers
- Each bite delivers a different combination of salty feta, briny olives, and sweet sun-dried tomatoes, so no two pieces taste exactly the same
- It looks impressive coming out of the oven but secretly uses simple pantry ingredients you probably already have on hand
02 -
- The dough needs the full rising time, or the bread will be dense instead of fluffy and light
- Stack the squares rather than just placing them randomly, or they will bake into one solid block instead of pull-apart pieces
- Room temperature ingredients work better than cold ones for even rising and texture
03 -
- Sprinkle a little coarse salt over the top after baking for a professional finish and extra flavor pop
- If your dough seems too sticky while kneading, add flour one tablespoon at a time rather than all at once