A brand new notebook, few multi-color pens and a resolution to make the coming year better! The next half hour was crucial as all the points were jotted down one after the other with the hope to meet all the promises. The first few months were always fruitful and few points would successfully get checked off. Then came the shower of homework, assignments and exams, not to forget the crushes followed by heartbreaks. Amongst all these, that multi-colored page of New Year resolutions always got lost. And irrespective of the failures, the vital half hour of jotting down resolution returned around the same time next year. Silly innocent days!
After a few back-to-back flops, thankfully, I grew up and realized that resolutions were not meant for me. Life was too random, unpredictable and my control freak nature, didn’t like the idea of not being able to check off all the points at the end.
Last couple of years, I made few goals, silently, without jotting down anywhere. No multicolor pen this time, it was all in my mind. I hoped to cook better, try new ingredients, cut down on processed food, eat fresh, go for hikes, learn photography; basically things that would make our life happier and healthier. A daily commitment, as I like to call it!
One of the goals that I had set last year was to bake more fresh breads. I was determined to understand yeast, the concept of kneading and prepare fresh breads for dinner as much possible. I didn’t join any courses but I read a lot, tried every other day and after few failures, success started showing up. Since most of the times I baked at night just before dinner, those breads hardly made their way out here.
This roasted garlic and cilantro bread from Nigella Lawson’s book was one of the first breads that came out perfect, spreading the warmth and making me so proud. The bread made it to the dinner table and what left were only crumbs.
The texture of this bread is a blend between naan and focaccia bread, puffed and pillow-y, easy to break with hands and rustic. It freezes well and stays good for a few days, if kept in an airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil. Just warm it in the microwave and enjoy with soup or dip. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
Roasted Garlic and Cilantro Bread
Ingredients
for the bread
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon oil
for the topping
- 1 medium garlic head
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Mix warm water with sugar and yeast. Stir, cover and let it rest for about 5 minutes to activate the yeast.
- Once yeast is activated, add flour in the mixing bowl along with salt and oil. Give it a mix and make a well in the center. Pour the activated yeast into the well. Using a rubber spatula, give a mix to form rough dough. Now, if you are using a stand mixer, attach the dough hook and knead at speed 2 for 12 minutes. If you kneading by hand, scrape the dough in a lightly floured countertop or wooden board and knead until it’s smooth and elastic. It should take about 12 minutes.
- Once the dough is ready, make a rough round ball and place it on either the same mixing bowl or a separate one that's lightly brushed with oil. Cover it with clear wrap/kitchen towel and keep it in a warm place. Give it a couple of hours to rise and double in size.
- In the mean time, preheat the oven to 375F. Trim the top of garlic head, place it on aluminum foil, drizzle some oil on top and wrap it loosely. Allow it to roast in the oven for about 45 minutes.
- One done, allow it to cool and squeeze the soft garlic cloves out of their skin. Keep aside in a bowl. In a food processor, add the roughly chopped cilantro along with the chili flakes and roasted garlic cloves and blend for about a minute. Next, add olive oil and run the processor again until it forms a smooth spreadable paste. Keep it aside to be rubbed on the bread before baking.
- Once the bread dough rises and doubles in size, scrape it carefully to a board. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the bread dough on it and roll it to a rectangular or oval shape. Cover it and let it sit for 30 more minutes to get it fluffy.
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Once ready, poke your fingers all over the bread and brush the roasted garlic and cilantro mixture on top. Bake for about 25 minutes or until its golden brown on top.
- While serving, you can drizzle some more olive oil on top and salt. Serve warm.
Notes
- I have tried this bread with whole-wheat flour as well as a mix of whole wheat plus all-purpose flour. The texture remains fluffy. You might have to add a little bit more water in the dough if you use whole-wheat flour.
- The bread stays good for days if kept in the refrigerator covered tightly. Just microwave it to get the fluffy soft texture back.
“The smell of good bread baking, like the sound of lightly flowing water, is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight.” –M.F.K. Fisher
Comments are closed.
Shumaila The Novice
January 20, 2014 at 10:06 AMI love roasted garlic but have never tried cilantro in bread. Sounds pretty interesting. Kudos to you for keeping up with your silent goal of baking breads! Baking them is a lot of fun and the results are always rewarding!
Pia
January 20, 2014 at 10:11 AMOpen a shop for heaven’s sake! This is beyond gorgeous.
Jultchik
January 20, 2014 at 10:30 AMAmazing Photos!
Meeta
January 20, 2014 at 10:48 AMOh I smell the aromas from across the oceans and continents. One of my goals this year is to bake more bread. In Germany one is spoiled for choice but I am looking forward to making bread with flavors that really call out for me … like this one.
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January 20, 2014 at 11:34 AMMy kind of everyday bread! Fantastic clicks, as always!
dixya
January 20, 2014 at 12:24 PMlove the roasted garlic on this bread. I have been wanting to make fresh bread this year too, maybe I should start with this one.
[email protected]
January 20, 2014 at 12:49 PMAmazing recipe. This would be zoo good with some warm chicken or tomato soup.
I am not at all good at bread making. P likes sweet breads/buns. Those are the ones I am want to teach myself (well, some day)
Have a great week.
[email protected]
January 20, 2014 at 12:49 PMOmg, I meant soo & not zoo. LOL
Apu
January 20, 2014 at 1:31 PMDelish! I adore cilantro and garlic in bread.
Kristi @ MSFK
January 20, 2014 at 8:03 PMMMM my husband (and I) would LOVE this bread!! It looks so pretty too 🙂
Hari Chandana
January 20, 2014 at 9:12 PMLovely and flavorful bread.. looks tempting!!
Joyti
January 20, 2014 at 9:41 PMHappy belated New Year to you 🙂
The bread looks delicious. Stunning photographs 🙂
[email protected] is How I C
January 21, 2014 at 12:41 AMI want some of this right now. My favorite flavors are right here and i can’t wait to try this. And such a simple bread to boot!
easyfoodsmith
January 21, 2014 at 12:47 AMYou got me there with the roasted garlic. The bread looks perfect and tempting without a doubt.
Anita Menon
January 21, 2014 at 12:56 AMIs this a recipe out of Nigella’s How to be a domestic Goddess?
Your bread looks amazing! the photos say it all. I am sure this garlic scented bread must have warmed your bellies wonderfully.
Kankana Saxena
January 21, 2014 at 5:27 PMYes Anita, from that book and thanks a bunch 🙂
IshitaUnblogged
January 21, 2014 at 2:57 AMAmazing, amazing! Saw it in Instagram, now getting a glimpse of it from across the 7 seas! Cilantro, yeah why not? Am sure its got an amazing aroma. Gorgeous post. But that’s nothing new, right?
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
January 21, 2014 at 9:21 AMBeautiful savory bread, I love the roasted garlic and cilantro!
Manju @ Manju's Eati
January 21, 2014 at 11:24 AMI too love baking homemade breads and did try a few last year, but it’s been a while now since I made them again. and yes learning how to use yeast is quite a tricky thing, like algebra but once you learn the trick you can score near to a 100% 😉 Lovely shots and I bet that bread tasted so yumm!
Nandita
January 21, 2014 at 11:37 AMthe bread looks so scrumptious!!! Love the warm flavors that went into it 🙂
nipponnin
January 21, 2014 at 11:47 AMIncredible looking bread. All your photos are so enticing. I will love to make it today if I don’t have a doctor appointment, shoot! I just keep this recipe for later. Thank you for sharing.
Poornima
January 21, 2014 at 7:07 PMNothing like fresh home baked bread, love the flavors in this one! Hope to try soon!
Archana
January 22, 2014 at 4:14 AMBeautiful ! What lovely flavours !
Yvette @ Muy Bueno
January 22, 2014 at 7:43 PMLove the sound of your commitments! And that bread…oh my! Anything with roasted garlic is a winner in my book. Yum!
Zayna
January 23, 2014 at 6:04 AMYou had me at bread! Oh my… this looks amazing .. and not too difficult to make. Thanks so much for sharing.
Ash-foodfashionparty
January 23, 2014 at 8:34 AMMy favorite kind. There is definitely nothing like fresh baked bread and you’ve elevated it with roasted garlic, beautiful.
Veena
January 26, 2014 at 12:08 AMoh my… it looks utterly delicious…. amazing clicks…thanks for sharing
MB
January 30, 2014 at 2:20 AMI just discovered your blog today, and love, love it! This bread is gorgeous – I can’t wait to make it! My New Year’s Resolution has been to begin a food blog based on my travels, and am having a great time… I am completely inspired by your blog and your photography… thank you!
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January 31, 2014 at 12:57 AMWhat a beautiful loaf, it’s perfectly puffed and looks so tender.
Sabrina
February 2, 2014 at 12:22 PMHi Kankana,
I found you again. I lost your website for a while but now I am glad to find you here…with even more beautiful and interesting recipe. I love your new blog congratulations!
I changed a little my blog too, hope to see you there again. Did you try the gnocchi then? 🙂
Love this bread
Simi
February 2, 2014 at 2:48 PMReading this post was like reading my own resolutions… for the last few years its in my mind and trust me, I follow thru much better and it feels good.
The bread looks amazing and it’s so perfect and I just love the way you have captured it!
Shibi Thomas @ Flavz
February 3, 2014 at 12:29 PMThis year I started making notes of resolutions and its working so far, keeping my fingers crossed. The bread looks too good to pass it without trying. I love roasted garlic flavor and the clicks are too tempting!!!
Lan | morestomach
February 4, 2014 at 6:11 AMyour desire to bake bread for dinner often is so intentional and thoughtful, and the fact that after a few failures you still kept at it is admirable. this bread is beautiful!
Jodee Weiland
February 7, 2014 at 10:04 AMThis looks delicious! I do a Rosemary Olive Oil Focaccia with Caramelized Onions and love it, but your recipe looks just as enticing, so I definitely want to try it. Thanks for sharing!
Rosa
March 7, 2014 at 5:36 AMGreat flavors! This bread must taste out-of-this-world. Wonderful clicks, as usual.
Cheers,
Rosa