MEDITERRANEAN BLACK OLIVE BREAD

Mediterranean Black Olive Bread image

You can vary the flavor of this bread with your choice of olive - Kalamata, Amfisa, Arbequina, Niscoise ... ... ....

Provided by MARBALET

Yield 15

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

3 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped black olives
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 ¼ cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 tablespoon cornmeal

Steps:

In a large bowl, mix together flour, yeast, sugar, salt, black olives, olive oil, and water.
Turn out dough onto a floured board. Knead until smooth and elastic, 5 to 10 minutes. Set aside, and let rise about 45 minutes, until it doubles in size. Punch down. Knead well again, for about 5 to 10 minutes. Let rise for about 30 minutes, until it doubles in size.
Round the dough on kneading board. Place upside down in a bowl lined with a lint-free, well floured towel. Let rise until double in size.
While the bread is rising for the third time, put a pan of water in the bottom of the oven. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
Gently turn loaf out onto a sheet pan that has been lightly oiled and dusted with cornmeal.
Bake loaf at 500 degrees F (260 degrees C) for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake for 30 more minutes, or until done.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 138.4 calories, Carbohydrate 22.5 g, Fat 3.7 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 3.6 g, SaturatedFat 0.5 g, Sodium 197.3 mg, Sugar 1.8 g