CHEDDAR JALAPENO BREAD

Cheddar Jalapeno Bread image

This was from the March 2007 issue of Gourmet magazine. I made this tonight and we had it with dinner. I can't wait to toast it and make a sandwich with it tomorrow! A tasty bread with a kick. Can also be made using the dough cycle of your bread machine.

Provided by Dine Dish

Time 2h

Yield 1 loaf

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 3/4 cups warm water, plus
1 tablespoon warm water
4 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional
all-purpose flour, for dusting
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons chopped fresh jalapenos, including seeds and ribs
5 ounces coarsely grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 ounces finely grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
1 large egg, beaten with
1 pinch salt

Steps:

Stir together yeast and 1 tablespoon warm water in a small bowl; let mixture stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If it doesn't foam, discard and start over with new yeast.).
Mix together flour, salt, oil, yeast mixture, and remaining 1x cups warm water in bowl of mixer at low speed until a soft dough forms. Increase speed to medium-high and beat 3 minutes more. Add jalapeño, 1 1/2 cups Cheddar, and 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano and mix until combined.
Scrape dough down side of bowl (all around) into center, then sprinkle lightly with flour. Cover bowl with a clean kitchen towel (not terry cloth) to keep a crust from forming and let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. (Alternatively, let dough rise in bowl in refrigerator 8 to 12 hours.).
Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and gently form into a roughly 11- by 8-inch rectangle with floured hands.
Fold dough in thirds (like a letter) with floured hands (dough will be sticky), pressing along seam of each fold to seal.
Put dough, seam side down, in an oiled 9- by 5-inch loaf pan. Cover pan with same clean kitchen towel and let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until dough completely fills pan and rises above it slightly, 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
Brush loaf with egg, then sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons Cheddar and remaining 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano down center of loaf.
Bake until bread is golden and sounds hollow when tapped on bottom, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Run a knife around edge of pan to loosen loaf, then remove from pan to test for doneness.
Return bread (not in pan) to oven and turn on its side, then bake 10 minutes more to crisp crust. Cool completely on a rack, about 1 1/2 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 3138.5, Fat 122.9, SaturatedFat 47.2, Cholesterol 391.2, Sodium 5342.3, Carbohydrate 388.1, Fiber 15, Sugar 3.2, Protein 111.3