Ingredients
Scale
- 2¾ cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup milk (I used 2%)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup water
- 2 eggs (at room temperature)
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
For the filling
- ⅓ cup pesto sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine 1¾ cups of bread flour with sugar, salt, garlic powder, and yeast, and stir to mix. In a small saucepan heat milk and butter over low heat until butter is just melted, then set aside for 1 minute and add water. Add milk mixture to the flour and stir to combine. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until each is combined. This will take a few minutes. Add the remaining 1 cup of flour and parmesan cheese and knead the dough on low for about 4-5 minutes. It will still be slightly sticky but resist adding more flour.
- Set dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a towel, then set in a warm place to rise for one hour. After one hour, punch the dough down and either refrigerate overnight, or use it now. When ready to construct the bread, lightly flour your workspace and using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a giant rectangle, about 12×18″. Spread evenly with pesto, leaving some empty space around the edges, and sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.
- Roll the dough up from the horizontal side, so you have a long roll of dough. Fold the dough in half, and then twist the dough together. Place the rolled dough in the pan, tucking the ends under. Cover the dough with a towel and let rise for another hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease a 9×5” loaf pan and set the prepared pan on a baking sheet. Bake for 40-50 minutes, until the top is golden brown and a tap of the bottom of the pan sounds hollow.
- Let cool in the pan. Slice, and serve! This bread toasts really well. Keep wrapped in plastic for up to three days.