Savory Casserole Bread

Ally: What is casserole bread? Honestly, I had no idea when I was first looking at this recipe. Not joking, I literally googled, “what is casserole bread.” Basically, as best I can tell, it just means that you don’t knead it or let it rise so much, and therefore, it’s a much quicker and easier type of bread to make. True? Anyone know? I can definitely attest that it was the easiest and fastest loaf of bread I’ve ever made.

Selim: When I saw the casserole dish I immediately thought, “oh great casserole…”  When I think of casseroles I think of condensed soup, canned vegetables, sodium, and a burnt tongue (I always underestimate how long to let it cool before eating it).  As always, I was happy to be wrong when I saw this massive ball of dough heaping over the top.  The funny thing is, the savory smells of the ingredients started filling our place well before the whole thing was put in the oven.  The yeast starts working really quickly when warmed up and immediately started raising the dough – yay chemistry!  This bread would go well with any poultry dish (chicken, turkey, duck) or Thanksgiving dinner if you can get people to try something different instead of bland rolls.

Savory Casserole Bread

Adapted from a Southern Living Cookbook – American’s Best Home Cooking

Ingredients: 

• 4 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp granulated onion
• 1 tbsp granulated garlic
• 4 1/2 tsp active yeast (or 2 packets)
• 1 1/2 (+ a little more) cups sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• ~2 cups warm water

Instructions: 

1. Place all ingredients except for the water into the bowl of your stand mixer.
2. Turn the mixer on low, with a dough hook attached.
3. Slowly add the water as the mixer is going. You may not use all or may need slightly more. You want the dough to come together into a slightly sticky ball.
4. Place the dough into a 2 1/2 quart baking dish (buttered, oiled, or sprayed with cooking spray). Push it down to fill fully.
5. Cover and allow to rise for 30 minutes.
6. After rising, sprinkle a little bit of additional cheese on top.
7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 40 minutes.
8. After baking, remove from the oven and allow to cool in the dish for 10 minutes.
9. Then remove from the baking baking dish to a wire rack to cool for another 10 minutes.

Makes a LARGE loaf!