Onion Cheese Pull Apart Bread / Cheesy Pull Apart Bread - We Knead to Bake # 1

I love Cooking and Baking equally, and this blog really helps me to improve my skills on both Cooking recipes from different cuisines and Baking fresh breads, cakes, cookies. This really makes me more happy on seeing my own baked goodies which come out of oven fresh and perfectly. I came to know about the New Group "We Knead to bake" started by Aparna author of My Diverse Kitchen. I mailed her and she kindly accepted my request and sent me the bread#1 recipe- herb & cheese pull apart bread. I am so glad go be a part of this group thanks to Aparna for adding me, through this group i got to know more enthusiastic bloggers and their baking skills, its really fun baking together. This month for this pull apart bread everyone is so creative and am stunned on seeing their interesting filling both sweet and savory.

I simply followed her recipe as such with extra addition of onions n carrots...and also used mozzarella cheese. The bread turned out so good n I made it little more spicy with more chili flakes, pepper as me n H love anything spicy .
With the cut out dough I baked as plain garlic cheesy pull apart bread for my kids n they loved it too...to finish off the mozzarella cheese I added more cheesy topping, as a result of 25 minutes baking the top turned lil' burnt so it doesn't look appealing but tasted so delicious with marinara sauce n some chili flakes.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

1. All Purpose Flour     2 and 3/4 cups
2. Active Dry Yeast      2 tsp
3. Salt      1 tsp
4. Sugar    1 tsp
5. Butter    1 1/2 tbsp(soft at room temperature)
6. Garlic paste  1 tsp( i used dried garlic granules)
7. Warm Milk       1/2 cup + 3/4 cup + as needed for brushing

Method

• First on a small bowl, mix together warm milk, yeast n sugar, stir n let it rest for 4-5 minutes till it becomes frothy.

• In another bowl, add flour, salt, garlic granules, I added 1/4 tsp parsley n oregano mix well and add softened butter and combine well.
• Then to the flour add yeast mixture and stir, using remaining 3/4 cup milk knead to a smooth dough.
• On a lightly floured surface Knead dough for about 5 minutes, or until it is elastic.

• Lay dough in a bowl containing 1 teaspoon olive oil, then flip the dough, cover and let rise for 40-60 minutes, or until almost doubled.
• Mean while prepare filling n keep ready.

For filling

1. Butter       1 and 1/2 tbsp
2. Chilli flakes         1-2 tsp or to taste
3. Crushed cumin seeds     1 tsp(roasted n crushed)
4. Italian seasoning   1/2tsp
5. Red onion          1 medim sliced
6. Carrot                1/4 cup shredded
7. Cheese               1/2 cup shredded
8. Freshly chopped cilantro      few (optional)

Melt butter, slice onions and shred carrot n cheese and keep ready.
How to make Pull Apart Bread with Filling...

• Grease and lightly flour 9"loaf tin and keep aside.

• Once the dough risen, punch down the air, divide in to two equal parts, on a well floured surface roll it to thin large circle then cut it into large neat square 10" by 10".
• Then brush the dough with melted butter, sprinkle chilli flakes,Italian seasoning, crushed cumin, onions, carrots and cheese.

• Now press the filling lightly using rolling pin and cut it into 3 equal strips using sharp knife or pizza cutter.
• Then Lay each strip on top of the next, with the topping facing upwards, until you have
• a stack of the strips (see pic above).
• You can put the 2 strips cut from the sides in the middle of the stack so it looks neater. Using a pastry scraper or a sharp knife, cut straight down through the stack dividing it into 3 equal pieces.

• Do repeat the same procedure with the other portion andLayer the
• square slices, cut sides down into the loaf tin.
• With the cut out dough i baked as round pull apart bread with same butter n spices mixture and little carrot n cheese.
• Cover the loaf tin dough with a towel and allow the dough to rise for an hour. Lightly brush some
• milk over the top of the loaf, sprinkle some more chili flakes n crushed cumin seeds n if want some cheese also.
• Bake the dough at 180 C (350 F) for about 30 to 40 minutes until it is done and the top is golden
• brown. mine took around 25-28 minutes and the small one was ready in 12 minutes.

Notes:

As i have 8" loaf pan, i baked one" loaf bread and one 4" round bread.

This is a very soft and delicious bread, u can use any desired choice for filling both sweet & savory.
I sauteed the onions with 1/4 tsp oil and used in filling.

Linking this to Aparna's We Knead To Bake".