Bread is a staple food for people all around the world. We often enjoy bread at every meal- slathering butter over it in the morning, using it to soak up sauces and broths at lunch and dinner. And while simple white and wheat breads are common, artisanal and flavored breads are growing in popularity. One such variety that is worth exploring is olive bread.
What is Rustic Olive Bread?
As its name suggests, olive bread contains olives worked into the dough itself before baking. Sometimes entire olives are used, other times chopped or pureed olives are folded into the mixture. The olives add a pleasant, tangy, savory bite to the bread, taking it far beyond basic types. Olive bread has an attractive, speckled appearance from the included olives and also boasts extra nutrition thanks to the fruit.
There are a few different ways to make olive bread, but the basic recipe calls for bread flour, yeast, salt, water, and olives (along with optional ingredients like herbs). The dough is kneaded to develop the gluten, allowed to rise, shaped into loaves, and then baked to crusty, golden-brown perfection. Taking a bite, your teeth sinks through the crunchy crust into the soft, elastic crumb, met by the bright fruitiness and brine of the olives.
Benefits of Olive Bread
Beyond just taste, olive bread offers some unique health perks:
- Monounsaturated Fats – Olives provide beneficial monounsaturated fats called oleic acid, which can improve heart health by lowering LDL or “bad” cholesterol.
- Vitamin E – This important antioxidant vitamin boosts the immune system and may help prevent certain cancers and diseases.
- Iron – Important for circulatory and neurological health, iron assists in oxygen transport and energy production.
- Fiber – The skins and flesh of the olives offer dietary fiber for digestive regularity and lowering cholesterol.
- Herbs – Oftentimes, olive bread will include herbs like rosemary, oregano, thyme, etc. These not only flavor the bread but also provide protective plant compounds.
In this way, olive bread gives you more than just its great taste- it also packs nutritional value. This makes it a great accompaniment for any meal.
Selecting Quality Olives
To make great olive bread, you need great olives. The olives available at your local grocery store or specialty market can vary greatly in terms of quality, variety, and processing method. Here is what to look for:
- Freshness – Choose olives sold in refrigerated cases or from the deli counter for peak freshness and taste. The olives should look plump and moist.
- Salt-Cured – Many olives undergo a salt-curing process to remove their natural bitterness and develop flavor. This concentrate works very well for cooking.
- Organic – Reputable brands like Lucini Italia or Castelvetrano sell USDA-certified organic olives untouched by chemicals or artificial additives.
- Heirloom Varieties – Prized varieties like Gaeta, Kalamata, Picholine, and Manzanilla each have subtle, distinctive flavors to experience.
Avoid any olives that look shriveled or smell funky, as this indicates spoiled fruit. Canned olives often include preservatives and a metallic taste.
Popular Styles of Olive Bread
Several cultural varieties of olive bread exist, each with their own preparation methods, taste profiles, and traditional uses:
- Italian Olive Bread – Rich, focaccia-style olive bread comes studded with black or green olives, rosemary, and extra virgin olive oil. Gorgeously golden and fluffy inside but crispy outside. Dip in vinegar and olive oil or serve as sandwich bread.
- French Olive Rolls – Petite French bread rolls poked with holes to fill with an olive paste mixture before rising and baking. A specialty in Provence, they deliver big olive flavor in a bite-size package. Spread with tapenade, herbs, and olive oil.
- Greek Chili Olive Loaf – Hardy Greek peasant bread full of Kalamata olives, onions, orange zest, olive oil, and sometimes hot pepper flakes. The olives offer pops of salty brine. Slice thickly to accompany hearty Greek soups and salads.
- Middle Eastern Olive Flatbread – Paper-thin, round olive flatbreads blister beautifully when quickly cooked over a fire or in a hot oven. Olives stud the chewy, charred rounds that can wrap sabich, falafel, kebabs, hummus, and more.
The soft crumb and textural bite of olives make these breads perfect for dipping in good olive oil and vinegar. Slice to make outstanding sandwiches and bruschetta too.
Tips for Making Rustic Olive Bread at Home
Interested in trying your hand at homemade olive bread? Keep these key tips in mind:
- Allow Time to Rise – Yeast breads need adequate time for the fermentation process to properly develop flavor. Don’t rush your dough.
- Knead Thoroughly – Spend 10+ minutes vigorously kneading to form the gluten strands that give olive bread its chewy texture.
- Rest the Dough – Before shaping, let the risen dough rest for 10-20 minutes so it relaxes for easier handling. Punch it down to release gas bubbles.
- Carefully Shape – Gently shape without squishing out the valuable olives. Create taut rounds or loaves that hold structure while baking.
- Score Decoratively – Right before baking, make 5-6 angled slashes across the top with a lame or sharp knife so the bread can properly expand.
- Check Doneness – Use an instant-read thermometer to test for an internal temperature of at least 190°F to ensure the center is fully baked.
Making homemade olive bread does takes some time but offers a fun, hands-on baking challenge.
Serving Suggestions for Rustic Olive Bread
Olive bread’s natural saltiness and rich composition make it incredibly versatile for serving. Beyond just eating it plain, try these tasty ways to implement it:
- Bruschetta – Slice, grill or toast, then top with sweet tomatoes, basil, and olive oil.
- Panzanella Salad – Cube day-old olive bread, moisten with water, add cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, and parsley.
- Italian Sandwiches – Layer sliced olive bread with cured meats, cheeses, vegetables, and condiments for killer panini.
- Bread Bowls – Hollow small loaves out to serve soups, stews, and greens.
- Breadcrumbs & Croutons – Toast and process leftover bits into crunchy toppings for pasta, salads, casseroles and more.
- Olive Bread Stuffing – Substitute cubed olive bread when making stuffing for poultry and pork.
- Bread Pudding – Allow olive bread to stale before using it as a base for rich bread puddings soaked in a custard mixture.
Olive bread also shines all on its own as an appetizer for dipping. Slather with cheeses, tapenades, and herb-infused olive oils for instant appetizers.
The Final Word on Rustic Olive Bread
If you adore olives, olive bread deserves a permanent place in your kitchen. With a rich past, global roots, and incredible flavor, olive bread makes an easy yet impressive addition to all types of cuisine. Even novice home bakers can succeed when armed with the right techniques. While specialty olive loaves do populate bakeries, making your own allows you full control over the olive variety, dough ingredients, and shape. Your friends and family will be thoroughly impressed when you turn out gorgeous, golden loaves punctuated by all that glorious olive fruit. So gather your ingredients, preheat the oven, and discover the wonderful world of olive bread for yourself.
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Rustic Olive Bread
Mediterranean Sun-drenched Olive Loaf Recipe
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf, 10 servings 1x
Ingredients
4 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons instant yeast
2.7 fl oz olive oil
1.5 cups lukewarm water
1 cup pitted green olives, chopped
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and yeast.
Make a well in the center and add olive oil and water. Stir to combine, then knead for 10 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic.
Add chopped olives and knead until evenly distributed.
Cover the dough and allow it to rise for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Shape the dough into a loaf and place it on the baking sheet. Let it rest for 30 minutes.
Bake for about 30 minutes until the loaf is golden and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Calories: 210
