Herb Stuffed French Bread Recipes

HERBED FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat.
• Stir together all ingredients except bread.
• Cut bread into 1-inch slices. Spread herb mixture on cut sides of bread. Reassemble loaf. Wrap in piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil; seal securely.
• Grill uncovered about 4 inches from medium heat 15 to 20 minutes or until hot. Baking Directions: Heat oven to 350°F. Prepare bread and wrap in foil as directed. Bake about 20 minutes or until hot.

EASY HERBED FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• Cut bread into 1-in. slices. In a small bowl, combine the butter, parsley and chives; spread over one side of each slice of bread. , Place buttered side up on an ungreased baking sheet. Broil 4 in. from the heat for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown.

FOUGASSE

Steps:

• Pour water into a large bowl. Sprinkle yeast into water, and let it stand undisturbed until dissolved. Stir in 1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon herbs, sea salt, and 2 tablespoons oil until well blended. Mix in the flour, 1 cup at a time until a thick and somewhat sticky dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic. Form into a ball, and place into an oiled bowl. Flip the dough to coat the surface. Cover the bowl with a clean dishtowel, and let it rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch dough down, and divide in half. Shape into an irregular ovals, about 1 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle cornmeal over 2 baking sheets; transfer dough to pans. Brush each loaf with olive oil, and sprinkle the remaining herbs on top. Make several slashes in the bread, cutting through the dough with a knife. Cover the loaves with clean dishtowels. Let rise again until the dough begins to rise again, about 20 minutes.
• Place baking sheets into a preheated 450 degree F (220 degree C) oven. Quickly splash a small amount of water onto the floor of your oven to create steam, and close the oven door. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes.

HERB-STUFFED FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Split the bread lengthwise in half, but do not cut through, leaving it hinged on one side.
• Heat the oil in a saucepan, and add the scallions, parsley, salt and pepper.
• Cook, stirring, until scallions are wilted. Spoon the filling onto half of the bread. Cover with the second side, sandwich fashion.
• Wrap the bread closely in foil, and bake about 10 minutes.

POTATO AND HERB STUFFED BREAD

Steps:

• Stuffing: Boil the potatoes in their jackets until very soft. Peel and mash them thoroughly. Add the remaining stuffing ingredients. Mix well and set aside. This filling can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for a day. There is no need to warm the stuffing before filling the bread.
• To prepare the bread: Combine flours with salt in a bowl. Reserve about 1 teaspoon of shortening, and rub the remainder into the flour, with your finger tips until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add most of the water to form a mass. Slowly add more water tablespoons at a time until dough forms. Brush the work surface and your hands with the reserved teaspoon of fat. Place the dough on the greased surface, and knead for 10 to 15 minutes. This will be a very soft and pliable dough. Put back in bowl and cover with a moist towel or a sheet of plastic wrap and let it rest, preferably in a warm place, for at least 1/2 hour.
• Divide the bread dough and the filling into 12 equal portions. Take one piece dough and flatten it into a 4-inch round pillow with your hands. Depress the center slightly and place a portion of the filling into the depression. Bring the sides of the dough over the filling and enclose it completely. Press lightly but firmly to flatten it into a pillow, either between your hands or the work board. With your fingers, pinch the edges slightly, so that the filling is in the center and not near the edge where it could break through the dough. Cover with plastic wrap or a moist towel to prevent drying.
• Pick up each pattie and dust with flour. Firmly pat the pattie to make filling adhere to dough. Roll out to a 6-inch circle dusting with flour as you go, to prevent sticking. Cover with plastic wrap or moist towel.
• Heat the griddle or frying pan cook each bread for 2 minutes or until brown spots begin to appear. Flip the bread over and cook for 30 seconds. Brush lightly but thoroughly with melted shortening or oil and cook on original side for 30 seconds. Brush other side and flip again. Keep warm in a covered dish or tightly wrapped with foil. Note: They can also be made several hours ahead and reheated in a 300 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes.

MOZZARELLA-STUFFED GARLIC-AND-HERB BREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together flour, yeast, and salt. Make a well in center of mixture; add warm water and 2 tablespoons oil to well. Gradually stir flour mixture into wet mixture to form a ragged dough. Transfer to a floured work surface.
• Knead with floured hands until dough is tacky but no longer sticky and springs back when pressed with a finger, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl drizzled with oil, turning dough to evenly coat. Cover and let proof at room temperature until doubled in volume, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 450°F with a rack in lowest position. Punch down dough, transfer to a lightly floured work surface, and cut in half. Stretch one piece of dough, working outward from center, into an oval, approximately 9 by 13 inches. Brush 2 tablespoons oil onto a rimmed baking sheet. Place dough on sheet; top evenly with mozzarella, leaving a 1-inch border of dough around edges.
• Stretch second piece of dough on floured work surface to roughly same oval shape. Place over mozzarella, gently pressing to remove excess air from between doughs. Fold edge of bottom dough up and over edge of top dough, pinching to seal edges together. Sprinkle top evenly with Parmigiano; drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil.
• Stir together garlic, Italian seasoning, parsley, red-pepper flakes, and sesame seeds; sprinkle evenly over dough. Cut several steam vents in top of dough at 2-inch intervals.
• Bake until dough is golden brown in places and just cooked through, 18 to 20 minutes. (If dough puffs in places while baking, pierce with the tip of a knife to release steam.) Transfer bread from baking sheet to a wire rack and let cool a few minutes. Slice and serve hot, with marinara alongside for dipping.

HERBED FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• Put 5 cups flour into the container of a food processor. Add yeast, salt, rosemary, parsley, basil and chives and start processing while gradually adding the water.
• Add remaining cup of flour, or enough to make nonsticky dough that comes loose from container sides.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead while shaping the dough into a nonsticky ball.
• Lightly flour inside of a mixing bowl and add the dough. Cover with clean cloth and place in a warm (not hot) draft-free place to rise.
• Let stand until double in bulk, about 30 to 40 minutes. (It is not essential to let dough rise a second time, but it is preferable.) Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and punch down. Knead briefly and return the dough to lightly floured bowl. Let stand until double in bulk, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Turn out dough onto lightly floured board and knead briefly. Divide dough in half and shape it into two loaves, each about 15 inches long. Place loaves side by side on baking sheet and cover with clean cloth. Let stand 15 minutes or until they rise slightly (but not double in bulk).
• Remove cloth and, using razor blade, cut three uniform diagonal, parallel gashes over the top of each loaf. Place in oven on bottom rack and, if crisper crust is desired, place two ice cubes on bottom of oven. This will create steam. Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown all over.

HERB SPREAD FOR FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Cut bread in half lengthwise; spread herb spread on cut sides. , Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Broil 4 in. from the heat for 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned.