Greek Olive Bread: Soft & Delicious & Vegan!

Greek Homemade Olive Bread

Ingredients
For the Starter:

2 cups lukewarm (115 °F) water
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 and 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Remaining Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup olive oil
The Filling:

1 and 1/2 -2 cups pitted olives, roughly chopped
5 scallions, thinly sliced
1-2 roasted red peppers, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons dried crushed oregano
Topping:

2-3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoons sesame seeds

For Baking:

16-inch round baking pan or a half sheet baking pan
2 sheets of parchment paper
2 tablespoons semolina flour or cornmeal

Instructions
Make the starter:
Combine all of the starter ingredients into the bowl of a tabletop mixer fitted with the hook attachment. Mix the ingredients together with a spoon or whisk and set aside for 8-10 minutes.
Note:
A puffy cloud will form on the top of the mixture. If this does not happen, throw away the mixture and start with a different batch of yeast. Yeast very rarely goes bad, but when it does, it cannot be used.

Combine the remaining flour and salt in a bowl and whisk together.
Add the flour mixture along with the olive oil to the yeast mixture. Knead on low speed for 10 minutes.

Place the dough in an oiled large bowl and cover with plastic. Set aside in a warm place to rise until doubled in size. This usually takes around 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours depending on the temperature.

Make the Filling: Combine all of the filling ingredients together in a bowl and toss.

Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of oil on a piece of parchment paper and transfer the dough on top of it. Press it with your hands and form it into a 15 inch circle. Add all of the filling on top of the dough. Gather the ends of the circle and bring them towards the center to cover the filling. Smooth the top out and flatten it.

Line a baking tray with parchment paper and sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of semolina on top of it. Carefully transfer the filled dough, seam-side down onto the pan.

Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm part of your home to rise for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425 °F, 220 °C.

Remove the plastic wrap and brush the top of the dough with olive oil. Make some indentations in the dough with your fingertips. Sprinkle the top of the dough with the sesame seeds.

Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the top and bottom of the bread is golden.

Allow the bread to rest for 15 minutes and serve. Kali Orexi!

Notes
Options: Add feta cheese and shredded gouda to the filling or any of the following ingredients:

sundried tomatoes
sauteed bell peppers
crushed red pepper flakes
assorted pitted olives
mozzarella cheeseMusic Used:
Greek Sun Time (With Intro)
ITEM ID: 66582698
By: tonyanthony

Its All Greek
ITEM ID: 84456733
By: LowNotes

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[sil]

I was never a big fan of Greek food but not until I found your recipes! I cannot stop doing Greek delicious recipes and all thanks to you!

[sheiladale]

I’m laughing at myself… watching you mix the olives and ingredients I found myself anxiously wanting you to hurry up… I wanted a taste😊 Then I sat back in my chair and started laughing. I’m watching a video for heaven’s sake!!! 😂😂😂😂
You sure have a way of making everything look so delicious!!

[SoulaGeorge]

Just made this bread. Still too hot to taste. I added black olives, halloumi cheese, sautéed onion, dried mint and fresh parsley. Can’t wait to taste it! Thanking you for this and other recipes.

[steveg]

You're proof (along with my wife I must add) that Greek Goddesses still walk the earth👑

[olguntoman]

Thank you so much, being an olive lover, I'll try that amazing recipe as soon as possible. A non English idiom from Turkey: "I wish health for your hands". Love from Istanbul..

[Anna-sssf]

Made this. In the oven now! Didn’t have sesame seeds, so used “everything but the bagel” shaker seasoning. Oh my! In the oven only 5 mins and the aroma is absolutely intoxicating.

[susanslawter]

Oh my!! The Feta bread and the Greek Olive bread look absolutely gorgeous and delicious!! Thank you...

[Phyllinx]

This bread is fantastic. We Love the Feta filling. My Hausband loved it. I will try the dryer trick next time. Thanks ❤️ Dimitra!!!

[debbiemccracken]

Thanks for making it looks easy, thanks for not using any crazy music, Debbie from Canada.

[tzvirotstein]

You are the one Dimitra dear. Keep up the good work.

[Marge]

I can't count how many times I've made this, adding feta cheese, and each time it came out perfectly and was outstanding. Even those who don't like feta cheese LOVE this bread.

[aussiecarol]

Made this today and it's lovely! Great soft bread, beautiful filling. Watching from Australia and I've been following your recipes Dimitra for the last month or two. They all look delicious so now I've had such success with this Greek Olive Bread, I am looking forward to trying more of your recipes. Thank you for showing us how to make such great Greek food!

[APO]

chef jana is sending you here loving greatings. γεια σου, χερετισματα και καλλες επιτιχιες

[nancywebb]

The very first thing I thought of when I saw this were the incredible muffulettas I had in New Orleans! I could eat one every day! There are strong similarities between the two.

[najinaji]

looks so delicious and prefect for the the weekend! You are such a a talent.

[parapoliticos]

Olive bread is desert.
That's how tasty it is

[mariedmitrieff]

looks delicious. I would add dill, fried mushrooms, garlic, feta cheese, lemon. with a pinch of salt and pepper . I avoid white flour, sugar. so I wold bake it in a tortilla . and turn it into a tortilla pizza

[rosearabian]

Its so funny that you put the dough in a warm dryer because I do that do. 👍

[Topol]

Just made it! And I can’t thank enough! Your calm and relax attitude made me brave enough to try it! You are a Greek goddess! ❤ delicious dinner for me with a glass of wine!

[Anon.]

You are a wonderful teacher. It is great that you give alternatives too because I am dairy restricted, have nut allergies and cannot have tomatoes either. Also love that you don't have any gimmicks like "jokes". You just do and teach.