Spinach And Feta Bread Recipes

FETA-AND-SPINACH BUNS

Steps:

• For the dough: Warm the milk and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan over low heat to about 100 degrees F (but no more than 110 degrees F). Remove the saucepan from the heat, and sprinkle the yeast over the liquid. Sprinkle a pinch of the sugar over the top, and let sit without stirring until foamy, about 5 minutes. Then whisk in the butter and egg yolk.
• Whisk together the flour, remaining sugar and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, and stir in the yeast mixture with a wooden spoon until you have a thick, sticky dough. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface, and knead until soft and elastic, about 6 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball.
• Brush the inside of a large bowl with butter. Add the dough ball, turning to coat lightly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, trace a circle the size of the dough ball on the plastic and note the time. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Turn the dough out of the bowl, and knead briefly to release excess air. Re-form it into a ball, and return it to the bowl. Lightly butter a large piece of plastic wrap, and lay it on the dough. Cover the entire bowl tightly with the rest of the plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to let the dough proof.
• For the filling: Melt the butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped shallots, and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the spinach, and cook until it is cooked through and nearly all the liquid has evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat, and stir in the feta, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, lemon zest, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Transfer the filling to a medium bowl, and let cool completely. (The filling will firm up a bit, but if it's too warm, it will be difficult to form the buns.)
• To fill and form the buns: Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with 2 tablespoons softened butter. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface, and press it flat. Roll it into a 10-by-18-inch rectangle, with a long side facing you. Spread the filling evenly over the dough, leaving about a 1-inch border on the side opposite you. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan evenly over the filling. Starting from the side facing you, roll the dough up into a tight roll. Lightly brush the 1-inch border with water, and continue rolling to seal the roll. Fold the ends in just a bit, and if any spots look thicker than others, even out the roll with your hands.
• Cut the roll every 1 1/2 inches with a serrated knife, to make 12 buns. Place the buns cut-side down (except for the end pieces) in the prepared pan, spacing them 1 inch apart. Cover them loosely with plastic wrap, and set in a warm place to rise until the buns double in size, leaving no gaps in between, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• For the topping: Stir together the butter, dill, lemon zest and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a small bowl; set aside.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Bake the buns until they're golden brown and the tops spring back when pressed lightly, 25 to 30 minutes. Spread the topping evenly over the buns, and return them to the oven until the butter is melted and the topping is fragrant, 5 minutes more. Let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes before serving.

SPINACH BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl combine water, honey, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and sprinkle the yeast over the top. Set aside to foam. Then whisk in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then sift 1 cup of flour and mix well. Set aside for 1 hour, or until it has a sponge-like texture.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and saute onions until tender, about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic, cumin, and remaining salt to the onions. Stir in the spinach, in small batches, and cook until the spinach is soft. Pour on the lemon juice. Drain spinach in a colander and reserve the cooking liquid. In a large bowl, place 2 cups of the remaining flour, making a well in the center of the flour. Pour the spongy mixture into the well. Knead for 10 minutes, adding enough of the cooking liquid to make it pliable yet firm. Transfer to a oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 2 hours. Then add the feta cheese to the dough and knead for 1 minute. Add the spinach mixture, sprinkle with the remaining flour, and mix together quickly. The dough is supposed to be moist and loose, don't knead again. Form into a oblong loaf and place the dough on a well oiled baking sheet. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and let proof for 1 hour. Bake the bread for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees and cook for another 30 minutes.

SPINACH AND FETA QUICK BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan; line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add feta and spinach; toss to coat. Whisk together oil, buttermilk, and eggs in a second bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until combined. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes, then use overhangs to remove from pan and transfer to rack; cool completely.

SPINACH AND FETA STUFFED BREAD

Steps:

• Combine feta and next 10 ingredients in a bowl.
• Roll dough into a 16 x 10-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
• Spread spinach mixture over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
• Beginning with a long side, roll up jelly-roll fashion; pinch seam and ends to seal.
• Place roll, seam side down, on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
• Cut diagonal slits into top of the roll using a sharp knife.
• Cover and let rise in a warm place 1 hour or until doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top of the roll.
• Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until golden.

BREAD MACHINE SPINACH AND FETA BREAD

Steps:

• Place all ingredients into the bread machine bowl except the yeast, cheese and spinach.
• Place yeast in yeast hopper, and with 10 minutes left in the last kneading cycle add spinach and cheese.
• Walk away!

SPINACH FETA CHEESE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan with baking spray. Line with parchment paper that has been cut to fit, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides. Set aside.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add Feta cheese and spinach. Be sure to break the spinach up, almost like crumbling, as you add it to the flour mixture. Toss well to coat.
• Whisk together oil, buttermilk, and eggs in a second bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until combined.
• Transfer the thick batter to the prepared loaf pan. The consistency of this bread prior to baking is more a batter than a dough. Bake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes.
• Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes, then use overhangs to remove from pan and transfer to a rack to finish cooling completely.