This Parmesan Oregano Bread is soft and fluffy on the outside with a delicious pop of flavor the the cheesy, herby topping. You'll wanted on sandwiches, dipped in soups, or all on its own with some good salted butter.
I'm no homesteader or historical purist. I don't think everything needs to be made with whole foods or even from scratch. I'm a modern, practical kitchen witch, and I prefer to take a pragmatic approach to both food and spirituality. I work magick to change my energy. Most of the time, I'm looking to raise my vibration, and nothing brings me down like cooking out of obligation or desperation.
So sometimes I bake my own bread because I enjoy it, and it's fun. Most of the time, I eat store bought bread because it's convenient and I want bread right now, not in six hours. Would it be great if I could buy all my bread from an artisan bread baker who pours love into every loaf? Yeah, that would be freakin' awesome, but that's not always practical or available. I do the best with what I have, and I try to work kitchen magick from a place of love, not aggravation.
What makes this Parmesan Oregano Bread so awesome?
When you're in the mood for a bit of bread baking, you're gonna love this Parmesan Oregano Bread. It's got a soft, chewy crust, and it's oh so light and fluffy on the inside. Of course, what makes it extraordinary is the cheesy, herby topping that gets piled thickly on top of the bread before it goes in the oven. The Parmesan cheese melts and browns and goes a bit crispy. It's such a deep flavor. I just love it.
This is a soft bread, making it awesome for sandwiches. Unlike a crackly baguette that you have to gnaw through like a hyena, this bread is a pleasure to sink your teeth into. I also love it for dipping, especially in a good tomato soup or something with Italian flavors. Of course, I'm never shy about tearing off a hunk and slathering on some butter. It's one of life's great pleasures.
Magical Properties of Oregano
The word oregano means joy of the mountain. Tied to the planet Venus, this herb can be used to call in love and happiness. You can also use it in spells for good communication as it's also associated with the air element. It can also be used to increase creativity, healing, protection, and peace. Oregano is ruled by Taurus and Libra and carries receptive energy. (Source: Hearth Witch's Compendium by Anna Franklin)
For more on the magical properties of the ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.
Ingredients
Here's everything you'll need to make this bread. All the details are in the recipe card below.
- Flour - look for white flour labeled as strong flour or bread flour
- Yeast
- Sugar
- Water - warm to the touch but not hot
- Salt
- Oil - whatever vegetable oil or olive oil you keep on hand for cooking will be fine
- Parmesan cheese - grated
- Garlic granules
- Dried oregano
Tips for making Parmesan Oregano Bread
There's nothing fancy here. Start by waking up your yeast by mixing it with some water and sugar. If it doesn't get foamy after about 5 minutes, your yeast is dead and you need to buy some fresh yeast.
The the bowl of your stand mixer or a large mixing bowl, add the flour, salt, oil, and yeast mixture. Knead until smooth, either by hand or with the dough hook of your mixer. If the dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour, just a spoonful at atime. You want to keep it as moist as possible. Let your dough rise for about an hour and a half to double in size.
While you're waiting, you can mix together your Parm, garlic, and oregano with a bit of olive oil. Just use a fork to roughly incorporate it. Set that aside for later.
Once your dough is risen, tip it out of the bowl and divide it into two equal pieces. You can then shape these into rough oblong loaves. Place them on a baking sheet, cover them with a clean towel, and let them rise again for another 30 minutes. You can then cut a few slashes into each loaf and pile on your Parmesan mixture on top. Bake in a hot oven until crusty and golden.
When you're ready to feel awesome, bake up some Parmesan Oregano Bread. It's sure to bring you joy.
Looking for more awesome bread recipes? Try this Garlic & Herb Focaccia Bread or make some Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread.
PrintParmesan Oregano Bread
This Parmesan Oregano Bread is soft and fluffy on the outside with a delicious pop of flavor the the cheesy, herby topping. You'll wanted on sandwiches, dipped in soups, or all on its own with some good salted butter.
- Prep Time: 20
- Rising time: 120
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 2 loaves 1x
- Category: Baked Goods
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For the bread:
- 2 teaspoons yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 cups white bread flour or strong flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup vegetable or olive oil
For the topping:
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic granules
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Instructions
For the bread:
- In a small bowl, gently stir together the yeast, sugar, and warm water. Set this aside for 5 minutes to foam up.
- While your yeast is blooming, measure your flour and salt into a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Stir gently.
- When your yeast is foamy, add the oil to this mixture. Slowly stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and once it comes together, knead for 5-10 minutes, either with your dough hook on your stand mixer or by hand, until you've formed a smooth dough. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour a little bit at a time until it's workable.
- Place your dough back in the bowl if you kneaded it by hand, cover the bowl, and let it rise in a warm place for about and hour and a half or until double in size.
- Once your dough is risen, tip it out onto a lightly floured surface and divide the dough in two. Shape each half into an oblong loaf and place them on a baking sheet, cover with a tea towel, and allow them to rise again for about 30 minutes. Preheat your oven to 425 F (220 C).
- While the dough is rising, add all the ingredients for your topping to a mixing bowl and stir them together with a fork to incorporate the oil.
- When your loaves are risen, use a sharp knife to cut a few slashes across each loaf, then generously top each one with half of your Parmesan mixture. It will be a thick layer, and some will spill off. It doesn't need to be perfect.
- Just before you put your loaves in the oven, pour about a cup of water onto the floor of your oven or into a baking sheet at the bottom of the oven to create a moist environment. Bake your loaves for 15-20 minutes or until they're nicely browned and risen.
- Allow the loaves to cool on a wire rack before eating.
Recipe slightly adapted from My Way to Cook.
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