Fresh bread baking in the oven – perhaps one of the best smells coming from ovens, in my opinion. I rarely make bread from scratch but lately I have been in the mood to do so. Growing up I used to think making bread from scratch was a huge ordeal. I don’t know why because it’s so simple. I mean it is a process but that process works alone. I am talking about the rising of the dough, you do nothing but give it a nice warm place to do it’s magic. Of course, if your yeast isn’t fresh or if you knead it too long, the bread may not rise like it’s supposed to but even then when baked you have a nice enjoyable “flatbread” to slather with warm butter or dip into soup. It’s a win-win so I am at a loss as to why I do not do this more often. Oh, and if you need to get out some frustrations, you can skip the stand mixer and knead by hand and I do that often as well – now!
Rosemary Bread (Copycat recipe - Macaroni Grill)
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water 110-115 degrees
- 1 packet of active dry yeast 1/4 oz packet
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil divided
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- 3 1/2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary divided
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt optional
- optional - Italian Herb Bread Dipping Oil recipe below
Instructions
- In a large bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together 1/4 cup water, yeast and sugar until yeast has dissolved. Let rest for 5 minutes.
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, the remaining 3/4 cup warm water, 1 1/2 cups flour, 3 tablespoons rosemary and fine salt - using the paddle attachment of your stand mixer, blend mixture until combined. I found that using the paddle attachment instead of the dough hook for this step was easier to combine the ingredients. Alternatively, you can mix it with a wooden spoon.
- Switch the paddle attachment on stand mixer to a hook attachment and add in 1 cup flour and knead mixture on medium speed until smooth and elastic. Add additional flour as needed if dough is sticking to bowl.
- Cover bowl and allow to rest in a warm place until more than doubled in size, about 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
- Scoop dough out of bowl and divide into two equal portions.
- Spray two baking sheets with non-stick spray or grease them with olive oil.
- Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour and shape each dough section into rounds or ovals while folding tops into the middle and then tucking and pinching seams on the bottom.
- Transfer to prepared baking sheet spacing evenly apart and allow to rest, uncovered, until more than doubled about 1 1/2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, the remove from oven and brush loaves with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle tops the remaining 1 tablespoon rosemary and with a bit of kosher salt.
- Return to oven and bake 10 - 15 minutes longer until golden brown.
- Serve warm with Italian Herb Bread Dipping Oil (recipe below)
Italian Dipping Oil
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil add more as needed
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tbsp fresh rosemary chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in small bowl and whisk together.
- Serve with bread.
Enjoy!
I’ve never been to macaroni grill so I don’t know their bread. But I do know that homemade bread is just about the best thing ever! My son especially appreciates it. Looks great! Thanks for sharing with See Ya in the Gumbo.
Oh gosh! Now I’m drooling! I am on a fasting day so this is really a test! lol! Love your blog, I’ll be back!
http://littleshackonthehill.blogspot.ca
Hi Lisa,
I want this Rosemary Bread with Dipping Sauce right now, oh my! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope you stay warm and cozy on this cold day.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Oh Lisa! This bread looks amazing! I’ve got a wonderful rosemary plant in the garden that could use some trimming and this bread is exactly what I’m going to be doing with it! I’m so glad you shared this. Pinning & Tweeting.
These are adorable. Thanks for sharing your fabulous recipes at Foodie Fridays. Hope to see you again this week.
Blessings,
Shari
You are missing the boat somewhere. Macaroni grill only puts freshly ground pepper in their dipping oil. The combination of that and their salty rosemary bread is the highlight. Even my daughter who isn’t a fan of pepper got that.
Hi Laura, Thanks for stopping by! The recipe for the dipping oil is one of my favorites that I make. Yes, I totally agree with you on the olive oil and freshly ground pepper that Macaroni Grill uses; however, this recipe was for the bread and I chose to use the dipping oil that my family always requests with the bread here at home.