Melty Cheddar Jalapeño Bread

Submitted by Vicki Kaye

"From Gourmet, 2007."

 

• Ready In: 6hrs
• Ingredients: 10
• Yields: 1 loaf
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1 3⁄4 cups plus 1 tablespoon warm water, 105-115 degrees
• 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus additonal for dusting
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 1⁄4 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons jalapenos, chopped, including seeds and ribs
• 2 tablespoons jalapenos, chopped, without seeds and ribs
• 1 1⁄2 cups plus 2 tablespoons cheddar cheese, extra-sharp, grated
• 3⁄4 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese, finely grated
• 1 egg, beaten with a pinch of salt

directions

1. Equipment: a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment.
2. Stir together yeast and 1 tablespoon warm water in a small bowl; let mixture stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. If it doesn't foam, discard and start over with new yeast.
3. Mix together flour, salt, oil, yeast mixture, and remaining 1 3/4 cups warm water in bowl of mixer at low speed until a soft dough forms. Increase speed to medium-high and beat 3 minutes more. Add jalapeno, 1 1/2 cups cheddar, and 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano and mix until combined.
4. Scrape dough down side of bowl (all around) into center, then sprinkle lightly with flour. Cover bowl with a clean kitchen towel (not terry cloth) to keep a crust from forming and let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, 2 to 2 1/2 hours (Alternatively let dough rise in bowl in refrigerator 8 to 12 hours).
5. Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and gently form into a roughly 11 by 8-inch rectangle with floured hands.
6. Fold dough in thirds (like a letter) with floured hands (dough will be sticky), pressing along seam of each fold to seal.
7. Put dough, seam side down, in an oiled 9-by 5-inch loaf pan. Cover pan with same clean kitchen towel and let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until dough completely fills pan and rises above it slightly, 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
8. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400 degrees.
9. Brush loaf with egg, then sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons Cheddar and remaining 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano down center of loaf.
10. Bake until bread is golden and sounds hollow when tapped on bottom, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Run a knife around ege of pan to loosen loaf , then remove from pan to test for doneness.
11. Return bread (not in pan) to oven and turn on its side, then bake 10 minutes more to crisp crust. Cool completely on a rack, about 1 1/2 hours.