Jamie Oliver’s Easy Olive Bread Recipe: Perfect Homemade Loaf

Jamie Oliver’s olive bread transforms ordinary baking into an extraordinary sensory experience that tantalizes taste buds and awakens Mediterranean memories.

Rustic and aromatic, this bread carries the essence of Mediterranean kitchens with its rich, robust profile.

Mediterranean ingredients dance together, creating a symphony of flavors that speak directly to comfort and warmth.

Soft, pillowy textures contrast beautifully with salty olive punches, making each slice a delightful journey.

Crafting this bread requires passion, patience, and a willingness to embrace culinary adventure.

Home bakers can easily master this recipe, turning simple ingredients into a stunning centerpiece that impresses family and friends.

Complex yet accessible, the bread promises a delectable culinary exploration that connects you with authentic Mediterranean traditions: prepare to be amazed.

Why Jamie Oliver’s Olive Bread Is a Must-Try

• Burst with Mediterranean Flavors: This olive bread explodes with robust, sun-kissed tastes from sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese, transporting your taste buds straight to an Italian countryside.
• Create a Show-Stopping Presentation: The unique twisting technique transforms a simple bread into a stunning centerpiece with 12 perfectly intertwined sections, making it an eye-catching addition to any dining table or gathering.
• Packed with Homemade Comfort: The hands-on kneading process and layering of ingredients provide a deeply satisfying cooking experience, allowing you to connect with traditional bread-making methods while enjoying the therapeutic process of creating something delicious from scratch.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for casual brunches, dinner parties, or as a spectacular appetizer, this bread offers incredible flexibility and can be enjoyed warm, sliced, or served alongside various dishes and dips.

What Goes Into Jamie Oliver’s Olive Bread

• Flour: Core ingredient for bread structure, choose high-quality bread or all-purpose flour for best results.
• Sea Salt: Essential for flavor enhancement and dough development.
• Yeast: Crucial for bread rising and creating soft texture, ensure fresh and active.

• Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Black Olives: Provide intense Mediterranean flavor and unique texture, choose high-quality imported varieties if possible.
• Garlic: Adds robust depth to the olive paste, optional but recommended for full flavor profile.
• Basil Leaves: Fresh herb that brings aromatic brightness to the bread, use fresh leaves for best taste.
• Olive Oil: Helps create smooth paste and adds rich Mediterranean character.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle heat and complexity to the flavor profile.
• Parmesan Cheese: Provides sharp, salty notes to the olive paste.

• Mozzarella Cheese: Adds creamy, melting texture inside the bread layers.
• Additional Parmesan Cheese: For final garnish and extra flavor boost.
• Additional Olive Oil: For drizzling and adding shine to finished bread.

Bake Olive Bread Step-by-Step

Step 1: Prepare Flour Mixture

In a large bowl, mix flour with of sea salt, creating a central well for adding wet ingredients.

Step 2: Activate Yeast Mixture

In a jug, combine 300 milliliters (10 fluid ounces) of lukewarm water with yeast. Slowly pour the mixture into the flour well while gently stirring. Gradually incorporate flour from the edges to form a cohesive dough.

Step 3: Knead and Rest Dough

Knead the dough on a floured surface for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Transfer to a greased bowl, cover with a damp tea towel, and let rise in a warm location for 1 hour or until volume doubles.

Step 4: Create Olive Paste

• Sun-dried tomatoes
• Black olives
• Peeled garlic (optional)

Step 5: Enhance Olive Paste

• Most of the basil leaves
• Pinch of salt
• Olive oil
• Black pepper
• Finely grated Parmesan cheese

Step 6: Shape Bread Layers

Roll each dough half into a 28 cm (11-inch) diameter circle. Spread olive paste over one circle, top with shredded mozzarella, and cover with the second dough circle. Firmly press edges to seal.

Step 7: Create Bread Design

Place a jam jar in the center. Make 12 evenly spaced incisions radiating from the jar. Twist each slice 3 times and return to baking sheet.

Step 8: Final Proofing

Tuck remaining basil leaves into the bread. Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour or until volume doubles.

Step 9: Bake Bread

Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F). Bake bread in the center of the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Sprinkle with additional grated cheese and drizzle olive oil.

Step 10: Cool and Serve

Allow bread to rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Pro Tips for Bold, Savory Flavor

• Massage Dough Gently: Work the mixture softly to prevent tearing the delicate gluten strands, creating a smoother bread texture.
• Scatter Olives Strategically: Distribute olive pieces carefully across the surface, guaranteeing rich flavor in every mouthful without overwhelming the bread.
• Control Temperature Carefully: Keep your dough away from cold drafts during rising, maintaining a consistent warm environment for optimal yeast activation.
• Test Readiness Smartly: Gently press the dough with your fingertip; if it springs back slowly, your bread has reached perfect proofing stage.
• Clean Workspace Quickly: Wipe down surfaces immediately after kneading to prevent sticky residue and make post-baking cleanup easier.

Store Olive Bread the Right Way

• Airtight Container Method: Seal cooled olive bread completely in a high-quality ceramic or glass container with tight-fitting lid. Block moisture and air from entering to maintain bread's crispy exterior and soft interior texture.
• Freezing Method: Slice bread into individual portions before freezing. Wrap each slice separately in freezer-proof parchment paper, then place inside a resealable freezer bag. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn and preserve fresh flavor for up to three months.
• Vacuum Sealing Method: Use a vacuum sealer for maximum freshness preservation. Press out all air before sealing, which prevents moisture and prevents potential mold growth. This technique extends bread's shelf life significantly and keeps original taste and texture intact longer than traditional storage approaches.

Customize Jamie’s Olive Bread Recipe

• Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Replace sun-dried tomatoes with fresh rosemary, thyme, and oregano, creating an aromatic herb-packed bread that transports you to the Greek countryside.
• Spicy Chorizo Infusion: Incorporate diced Spanish chorizo and smoked paprika into the olive paste, adding a bold, zesty kick that elevates the bread's flavor profile.
• Roasted Vegetable Celebration: Swap olives with roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, and caramelized onions, transforming the bread into a colorful vegetable-loaded masterpiece.
• Cheese Lover's Dream: Mix in crumbled feta, blue cheese, and extra sharp cheddar alongside the original ingredients, creating a rich and tangy cheese-packed version that melts in your mouth.

Closing with Jamie Oliver’s Olive Bread

Jamie Oliver’s olive bread masterpiece whispers Mediterranean charm through each golden, twisted layer.

Rich olive paste mingles with fragrant basil, creating an aromatic symphony of flavors.

Parmesan and mozzarella cheese weave complexity into each delectable slice.

Careful kneading and patient rising transform simple ingredients into a culinary artwork.

Mediterranean heritage shines through this rustic bread’s intricate design and bold ingredients.

Passionate cooks, savor this recipe, share its delightful story across social platforms, spark conversations, and inspire kitchen adventures with friends.

Jamie Oliver Olive Bread Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 27 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Jamie Oliver’s olive bread brings Mediterranean warmth to your kitchen, blending rustic Italian flavors with simple ingredients. Rich olive chunks nestled in golden, herb-infused dough invite you to savor each aromatic slice.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 500 g (17.6 ounces) strong white bread flour
• 2 x 125 g (8.8 ounces) mozzarella
• 100 g (3.5 ounces) black olives
• 100 g (3.5 ounces) Parmesan cheese
• 6 sun-dried tomatoes

Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 x 7 g (0.25 ounces) sachet of dried yeast
• 1 clove of garlic, optional
• 1 bunch of fresh basil, (30g / 1.1 ounces)

Additional Ingredients:

• olive oil
• flour for dusting

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Craft a flour mixture by combining flour with sea salt in a spacious mixing bowl, forming a central cavity.
2. Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water (300 milliliters or 10 fluid ounces), gently pouring the liquid into the flour’s central well while gradually incorporating surrounding flour to develop a cohesive dough.
3. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and vigorously knead for approximately 10 minutes until achieving a smooth, elastic consistency. Relocate the dough to a greased bowl, drape with a damp kitchen towel, and allow it to rest in a warm environment for 60 minutes or until volume doubles.
4. Utilize a mortar and pestle to transform sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, and peeled garlic into a coarse textural mixture.
5. Incorporate most of the fresh basil leaves and a pinch of salt, continuing to pound until well integrated. Blend in olive oil, freshly ground black pepper, and finely grated Parmesan to create a robust paste.
6. Divide the dough and roll each portion into circular shapes approximately 28 centimeters (11 inches) in diameter. Generously spread the olive-based mixture across one dough circle, layer with shredded mozzarella, then carefully cover with the second dough circle, firmly sealing the edges.
7. Position a central reference point like a jam jar, then create 12 evenly distributed radial incisions extending from the center outward. Gently twist each segment three times and arrange on a prepared baking sheet.
8. Strategically nestle remaining basil leaves throughout the surface, cover with a moistened towel, and permit a second proofing phase in a warm location for approximately 60 minutes or until volume noticeably increases.
9. Heat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Carefully transfer the prepared bread to the oven’s central rack and bake for 20-25 minutes until achieving a rich golden coloration. Embellish with additional finely grated cheese and a delicate olive oil drizzle.
10. Allow the bread to rest and settle for 15 minutes before presenting and serving.

Notes

• Knead the dough vigorously, working it for a full 10 minutes to build strong gluten networks that create a robust bread structure with impressive volume.
• During proofing, patience transforms simple ingredients into a light, airy masterpiece. Watch for the dough to dramatically increase, nearly doubling its original size during two separate rising periods.
• Carefully spread olive paste from edge to edge, ensuring every slice bursts with rich, savory flavor and no bland sections interrupt the delicious experience.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: British

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 269 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 460 mg
• Fat: 17 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg