Tomato Basil Bread Recipe

tomato basil bread in slices on a wooden board

4.46 from 53 votes

Tomato Basil Bread Recipe

Tomato Basil Bread can be made in the bread machine or by hand. It's a flavorful dinner and holiday bread that's crusty on the outside and moist and soft on the inside.

Prep Time30

Cook Time40

Kneading/Resting Time1 30

Total Time2 40

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Keyword: bread machine, holiday appetizer, tomato basil bread

Servings:

Calories: 139kcal

Author: Kristina Tipps

Equipment

Ingredients

1 cup water warmed to 115℉
¼ cup plain yogurt
1 ½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon white sugar
¼ cup parmesan cheese grated
2 ½ cups bread flour
2 ¼ teaspoon yeast instant or active dry
⅓ cup fresh basil torn
6 oz sun-dried tomatoes rinsed and cut into small pieces

Instructions

By Hand Instructions

In a small saucepan, heat the water and yogurt until steaming, stirring occasionally. Let cool to 115°F, for approximately 5 minutes. While cooling, soak any water or oil off the sundried tomatoes and roughly chop into small pieces.
In a stand mixer, combine bread flour, sugar, torn basil, parmesan cheese, and yeast. Mix to combine. Add the yogurt and water, salt, and sundried tomatoes. Knead using the dough hook on low speed until smooth.
Once dough is smooth, increase the speed to medium and knead for 5-7 minutes, until a tacky ball forms. The dough should be sticky when done, but easily peel off your fingers when touched. If it sticks to your hands and cannot be removed, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time and knead for 2 minutes. Repeat this until the dough ball is smooth and sticky, but doesn't stick to your fingers.
Remove dough ball from the mixer and put in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a heavy towel and set in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
Knead a few more times, then shape into a smooth ball or rectangle. Slice an X on top. Cover with the towel and let rise in a warm place for 30 more minutes.
Bake at 350°F for 30-40 minutes, until the bread sounds hollow when tapped or the internal temperature has reached 200℉. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack. Let cool for 30 minutes before slicing.

Bread Machine Instructions

In the order your bread machine requires, add the warm water, yogurt, sugar, salt, parmesan cheese, bread flour, and yeast (this is the correct order for Cuisinart breadmakers).
If baking directly in the bread machine, set to the basic white bread mode. Select the 1.5 lb loaf size and your preferred crust color. When the mix-in sound beeps, add the sundried tomatoes and torn fresh basil. When the cycle completes, carefully transfer the bread to a cooling rack. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before slicing.
If baking in the oven, set to the dough mode and choose the 1.5 lb loaf. Press start. When the mix-in sound beeps, add the sundried tomatoes and torn fresh basil. When finished, shape into a ball or oval, slice an X into the top, cover with a heavy towel, and let rise in a warm place for 30-60 minutes, until doubled in size. Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes, until the bread sounds hollow when tapped or the internal temperature has reached 200℉. Transfer to a wire cooling rack and let cool for 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Storing: slice and store in airtight plastic or bread bags for up to 3 days at room temperature. Bread can be frozen for about 6 months.

Nutrition