Mediterranean Pull Apart Bread (Printable)
Soft golden bread stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, olives, feta, and fresh herbs. Ideal for sharing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) instant dry yeast
03 - 1 teaspoon sugar
04 - 1 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup warm water (110°F)
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Mediterranean Filling
07 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
08 - 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
09 - 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
10 - 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
12 - 1 clove garlic, minced
13 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ For Brushing
16 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
17 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
# How To Make It:
01 - Combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
02 - Add warm water and olive oil to the dry mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
03 - Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in volume.
05 - Mix sun-dried tomatoes, olives, feta, basil, parsley, garlic, melted butter, oregano, and black pepper in a bowl.
06 - Punch down risen dough and roll into a 12x16 inch rectangle on a floured surface.
07 - Spread the Mediterranean filling evenly over the rolled dough.
08 - Cut dough vertically into 4 equal strips, stack strips on top of each other, then cut the stack into 6 equal pieces.
09 - Place the stacks upright in a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan.
10 - Cover loosely and let rise for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F during this time.
11 - Brush top with olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown, tenting with foil if browning too quickly.
12 - Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The way the feta gets slightly salty and golden in spots while the tomatoes turn jammy and sweet
- You can assemble it hours before baking and just pop it in the oven when guests arrive
- The pulling apart ritual turns eating into something communal and interactive
02 -
- The dough needs to be rolled thinly enough or you will end up with mostly bread and barely any filling layers
- Letting the bread cool in the pan for those 10 minutes is crucial, otherwise it can collapse when you remove it
03 -
- Use a very sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut through all the layers cleanly without squishing them
- Rotate the pan halfway through baking for even browning on all sides