Italian Pesto Bread

A Healthy Twist on a Great Original Recipe

I give total props to Foodie Bride on BlogHer for her original Braided Pesto Bread recipe for the inspiration to create this healthier version of it. She made it look so good and I wanted to eat it so badly, I felt compelled to add some fiber, vitamins, minerals and cut a little of the fat.

How I Made Pesto Bread Healthier

Whole Grain Flour: I started by using my trusty spelt flour, a combo of whole grain and white. Whole grain spelt is rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. White spelt flour is simply sifted to remove some of the bran – it’s not bleached. It retains many of the vitamins and minerals of whole grain spelt, but it has less fiber. You could use whole grain spelt for the entire recipe for extreme healthfulness. Whole grain doughs are a little trickier to work with, and the bread will taste nuttier, but it certainly can be done!

Optional Cheese: The original recipe calls for parmesan cheese sprinkled on top of the bread at the end, which I don’t think it needs. The pesto has so much flavor (and has cheese in it), for me cheese is extra fat and it didn’t add much to the bread.  I suggest a sprinkle of coarse sea salt instead. Your choice!

Pesto: There are lots of pestos out there, use a healthy one. It can be a classic one, like my  Yummy Pesto Recipe, or it can be something different like a Red Pepper Pesto, or something really healthy, like my Kale Walnut Pesto.

How to Make Healthier Italian Pesto Bread

Print Recipe

Italian Pesto Bread

Servings: 12

Author: Angela Marinelli, inspired by Foodie Bride

Ingredients

For the bread:

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 tsp yeast
• 1 3/4 cups whole spelt flour plus more for dusting work surface
• 1 1/2 cups white spelt flour
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 1/4 tsp salt

For the loaf:

• 1/2 cup pesto
• 1/4 tsp coarse sea salt
• Optional: 1 Tbsp grated cheese I like pecorino ramano, can use parmesan, or vegan rice parmesan cheese

Instructions

Activate the Yeast

• Heat water to 90 - 95 degrees.
• Pour warm water into the mixing bowl of your stand mixer and sprinkle yeast on top of water.
• Let sit for 5 minutes.
• Should start to foam.

Mix the Dough

• Add the flour, oil, and salt to yeast mixture.
• Using the dough hook turn the mixer to low.
• Once the ingredients are incorporated, knead the dough for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
• The dough should completely clean the bottom and sides of the bowl.
• If the dough is sticking to the bottom and/or sides of the bowl, add flour one tablespoon at a time until the dough pulls away.
• Once kneaded, form the dough into a smooth ball.
• Transfer to a lightly greased bowl and let rise in a draft-free place until doubled (about 1 hour).
• I like to let my dough rise in an oven I'm not using.

Roll Out Your Dough

• Lightly flour your work surface.
• Gently stretch and elongate your dough.
• Roll into a rectangle, about 18x12 inches. Rolling onto a Silpat works perfectly.
• Spoon pesto over top, spreading evenly, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges.
• Roll the long side of the dough to you and pinch the seam closed.
• Transfer to your parchment (or Silpat)-lined or cornmeal-dusted baking sheet.
• Cut the dough in half down the length of the dough and pinch the top ends together.
• Quickly twist the two pieces, keeping the cut ends on top.
• When you get to the bottom, pinch the ends together and wrap into a wreath.
• Transfer to your baking sheet
• Sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
• Let rest for 30 minutes.

Bake

• Preheat oven to 425.
• Top with shredded cheese (if using).
• Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown.
• Let cool slightly and slice to serve.

Here’s how you know your yeast is ready:

Here’s how the dough should look like when it pulls away from the sides of the bowl and you know it’s ready:

Did your dough rise? It should double in size and look airy, like this:

Here’s what the dough looks like rolled out on a Silpat with the pesto brushed on it:

 Here’s how you cut the dough lengthwise:

Here’s how you twist the dough. This was my first time, I was working fast, and I didn’t get the best picture. Sorry! But here’s what I got:

Here’s what it looks like when you wrap it like a wreath, let it rise and bake it:

Hope you give it a try!