Twisted Pesto Crown Loaf
Flavour leaps out of this showstopper loaf, which is a fun addition to any meal.
Makes 1 large crown loaf
Dough
- 1 package (1 tbsp) active dry yeast
- ¼ cup warm water
- ¼ cup soft butter
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 egg, beaten
- 3-3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Filling
- About ¼ cup soft butter
- 4-6 heaping tbsp basil pesto, or pesto of your choice
- ¼ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil
- ¼ cup sliced pitted black olives
- 1-2 tsp dried oregano
- About ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp melted butter
Into the bowl of a stand mixer, place 2 cups flour.
In a measuring cup or small bowl, mix together the yeast and ¼ cup water. Let stand until foamy. Meanwhile, in a pot combine the butter, sugar, salt, and milk. Heat to lukewarm (not hotter than a baby’s bath temp). (Mixture can also be heated in the microwave being careful not to overheat the milk.) Stir well and add the beaten egg and the proofed yeast. Stir well. Add to the flour in the bowl and mix well with a wooden spoon. Insert the dough hook and add another cup of flour. Mix on low speed until the dough cleans the sides of the bowl, adding small amounts of flour as necessary. Knead on low speed for 5 minutes. (Alternatively, knead the dough by hand for 10 minutes.)
Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 ½ hours.
Gently transfer dough to a lightly floured board and using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to a 12” x 18” rectangle. Using a spatula, spread the dough with the butter; then spread with the pesto. Sprinkle with tomatoes, olives, oregano and cheese.
Along the long side, roll the dough into a long log. Pinch the seams with your fingers and turn the log so the seam side is down. Using a pizza cutter or long sharp knife, cut the log in half lengthwise leaving about 1” of the log intact at one end. Twist each half open to expose the layers with filling. Starting at the end that is intact, twist the two halves together to make a long, twisted braid.
Starting at the bottom, coil the twisted braid into a round loaf, tucking the ends under the crown. Transfer to a parchment lined round pizza pan, or a cookie sheet. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and then a tea towel. Let rise for 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. Bake the loaf for 35-40 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and brush the hot loaf with melted butter. Let rest 30 minutes before cutting.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.