Recipe For Cooking Tomato Bread

Toast Oven Breads :: Sweet and Savory Yeast Breads

Tomato Bread

Try this savory bread toasted in the oven with pepperoni, mozzarella cheese and green olives. Makes approximately 2 loaves (24 slices total).

2 C. tomato juice
1/2 C. tomato sauce
2 Tbsp. butter
6 to 6 1/2 C. flour
2 pkg. (2 Tbsp.) dry yeast
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 tea. salt
1/2 tea. dried basil
3/4 tea. dried oregano
1/4 tea. ground rosemary
1/4 tea. ground fennel
1 garlic clove, crushed

Heat tomato juice, sauce and butter to 120 degrees F.

In a lrg. bowl, combine 3 C. flour with yeast, sugar, salt, basil, oregano, rosemary, and fennel; add warmed tomato mixture and garlic. Mix with dough hook (or by hand) 3 min. or 300 strokes, scraping bowl frequently.

Add 3 to 31/2 C. additional flour, until firm enough to handle; turn out onto floured board. Add enough flour that dough is not sticky; knead until smooth and elastic.

Place dough in a prepared bowl; cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hr..

Punch down; let rest 15 min. Shape into two loaves; place in prepared 9-in. bread pans. Cover loosely; let rise until nearly doubled, about 45 min.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 min.; reduce heat to 350 degrees F and bake 30 min. longer, until loaves sound hollow when tapped. Remove from pans; cool on a rack.