Description
Italian Herb and Cheese Bread, inspired by Subway, is soft, fluffy, and loaded with savory flavors. Freshly baked loaves are topped with melted cheese, garlic, and herbs for the perfect sandwich bread or side dish.
Ingredients
Bread Starter:
75 g all-purpose flour
0.5 teaspoon diastatic malt powder
3 g active yeast
60 ml lukewarm water
Dough:
600 g all-purpose flour
40 g butter
17 g active yeast
50 g granulated sugar
15 g kosher salt
15 g diastatic malt powder
340 ml lukewarm water
Topping:
½ cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
3 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions
1. Mix flour, malt powder, and yeast for bread starter. Add water, cover, and let sit at room temperature.
2. Optional: Dissolve yeast in ¼ cup lukewarm water for easier kneading. Adjust final dough water to 280 ml.
3. In a stand mixer, combine starter, flour, butter, yeast, sugar, salt, malt powder, and remaining water. Knead 8 minutes.
4. Let dough rest 30 minutes at room temperature. Fold dough gently, rest 10 minutes. Repeat folding and resting 2 more times.
5. Preheat oven to 350°F. Divide dough into 4–5 baguette loaves. Place in baguette pan if available.
6. Mix topping ingredients (except butter). Brush loaves with melted butter, then roll in herb-cheese mix.
7. Let loaves rest 20–30 minutes until expanded. Place a bowl of water in oven. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden.
8. Broil 1–2 minutes for even browning. Cool under a dish cloth to keep bread soft and moist.
Notes
Use a baguette pan for best shape, but free-form loaves work too.
Covering loaves with a cloth after baking keeps them fluffy.
Cotija or mozzarella can be swapped for Monterey Jack if desired.
Best enjoyed fresh but can be stored airtight for 2–3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Bread, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 loaf
- Calories: 867
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 1709 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 150 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 14 mg