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Cheesy Bread

American Side Dish
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Posted on: 2024-01-20
Updated on: 2024-02-03 14:12:49 by Mike

Mike
Image Of Cheesy Bread Ready To Eat.

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Description

I love making this cheese bread. It's my special creation that turns ordinary meals into extraordinary experiences. The process begins with crafting the perfect bread dough from high-quality bread flour. This ensures a beautifully chewy texture that's just the foundation of what's to come. Carefully measured water, yeast, salt, and a hint of sugar combine to create a dough that rises to the perfect degree of fluffiness.

Once my dough is well-kneaded and has had its second rise, that's when the real magic begins. I generously fold in sharp cheddar and Parmesan cheese, each bite destined to be rich and bursting with flavor. But what really sets my bread apart is my homemade garlic confit, which I affectionately call 'garlic love'. This confit, created from slow-cooked, caramelized garlic, infuses the bread with a sweet, savory, and deep garlic flavor that's simply irresistible. Here's my Garlic Confit aka Garlic Love recipe, which you will need to make this recipe.

But the heart of this bread lies in the cheese - and not just any cheese. I know pre-shredded cheese is easy, but I take blocks of sharp cheddar and Parmesan and grate them myself with a box grater. I never use pre-shredded cheese, as it often contains preservatives that can alter the taste. Freshly grated cheese not only melts better, but it also brings a richness and purity of flavor that pre-shredded cheese simply can't match. This careful attention to detail ensures that each bite of my bread is a gooey, cheesy delight.

The bread is cooked using the proven, "dutch oven" bread-cooking technique. On your second rise of your bread, your dough ball gets mixed with the ingredients and placed on parchment paper and into the oven for 30 minutes keeping the lid on the entire time. The final 15 minutes of cooking is with the lid off. This is the process I use for making all my bread and the bread turns out amazing!

As the bread cooks, the cheese begins to ooze gloriously from every slice, creating a mouthwatering spectacle. The aromas of fresh bread and roasted garlic fill the air, making it almost impossible to wait for the bread to finish baking. It's not just bread; it's a culinary event.

I often use this cheesy garlic bread to make grilled cheese sandwiches that are unlike anything you've ever tasted. Simply toasting it and spreading some butter on top transforms it into a meal in itself. It's so loved that my family and friends often request 'Mike's Cheese Bread' by name.

You see, my secret lies in what I call flavor stacking. Layering the rich tastes of the cheeses with the unique depth of my garlic love creates a sensory experience that is more than just eating; it's savoring every moment. This cheese bread isn't just a recipe—it's a piece of culinary art that I'm proud to share.

Start with some bread dough you have let rise.

Be Sure To Use Second Risen Bread Dough
Be Sure To Use Second Risen Bread Dough by Mike Kearns

Cheesy Bread Ingredients

Step-By-Step Instructions

Image of Cheesy Bread ready to use/eat. Cheesy Bread

Prep Time: 35 minutes.

Cook Time: 45 minutes.

Total Time: 80 minutes.

Yield: 6 Servings

Nutrition Information: 320 Calories Per Serving - 2 Slices.

Ingredients:
Instructions:
  • Step 1 - Gather your ingredients. For this recipe, you will need #1 - 1 Cup grated cheddar cheese, #2 - 3/4 shredded Parmesan cheese, #3 - 2 TBSP of Garlic Confit aka Garlic Love, and #4 - fresh bread dough.
  • Step 2 - Mixing ingredients into dough - In a mixing box, put in both cheeses and the Garlic Confit aka Garlic Love, and slow mix into the dough. It can get messy and you are bound to get some garlic on your hands. Don't over mix it.
  • Step 3 - Rest Dough for 30 minutes. You're dough, cheese, and garlic should be mixed well. Place it on a parchment paper round, with a kitchen towel over the top. Turn on the oven to 450 degrees, and place the dutch oven in the oven, with the lid, to heat up. Move your oven racks if you need to. The dutch oven should sit in the middle of the oven, front-to-back and top-to-bottom. Below is what your dough should look like once mixed.
  • Step 4 - Begin cooking bread. Remove the dutch oven from the oven. Carefully, drop the parchment paper and dough loaf into the dutch oven. Put the lid on and return it to the oven for cooking at 450 degrees for 30 minutes. A bit about safety. I also have dedicated kitchen towels for when I pick up a hot dutch oven and start moving it around. The rule with my towels is no water. I keep the towels separate from other family members who can get the towels wet. When your towels get damp, the heat can go through the towels, into your hands, and burn you quickly. Sometimes it's hard to feel when your towels get wet. I hate being burned. I even go so far as to lay the towels on the hot dutch oven when it's sitting on the stove top so I don't accidentally touch it. The towels remind me to watch out.
  • Step 5 - Remove the lid and continue cooking. After the cheese bread has cooked for 30 minutes, remove the lid and cook for another 15 minutes at 450 degrees. You can remove the dutch oven from the oven, remove the lid, then place it back in the oven. However, I like to reach in the oven, with my dry kitchen towel, and simply grab the lid, remove it, close the oven door, and call it good. I think it's faster and I lose less heat this way. Also, I leave the kitchen towel lying over the lid so know one grabs it, and if they do, they are protected.
  • Step 6 - Remove bread from the oven and rest it. You are almost there. Remove the bread from the oven. Turn the oven off. Remove the lid from the dutch oven with your trusty, dry kitchen towel. Set it aside with a towel over the top. Grab the edges of the parchment paper being careful not to touch the dutch oven, then lift the bread out of the dutch oven and onto a cooling rack.
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Cheesy Bread Drink Pairings

Alcoholic
  • Chardonnay Wine

    The buttery and oaky notes of Chardonnay complement the richness of the cheesy and garlicky bread.

  • Craft Beer - Pale Ale

    A hoppy and slightly bitter Pale Ale can cut through the cheese and garlic flavors while enhancing the overall taste.

  • Dry Hard Cider

    A crisp and slightly tart hard cider pairs well with the cheesy and garlicky bread.

  • Sauvignon Blanc Wine

    The acidity and citrusy notes of Sauvignon Blanc can balance the richness of the cheese and garlic.

Non-Alcoholic
  • Sparkling Water

    The effervescence of sparkling water can cleanse your palate between bites of cheesy bread.

  • Lemonade

    A classic lemonade with its tartness can complement the savory flavors of the bread.

  • Iced Green Tea

    A chilled, mild, and slightly early iced green tea can be refreshing choice to enjoy with your cheesy and garlicky bread.

  • Tomato Juice

    The acidity and savory notes of tomato juice can complement the cheesy and garlicky flavors.