Homemade Mediterranean Olive Bread

Step 1

Lay a clean kitchen towel on a cookie tray and dust liberally with corn meal. Set aside with another towel beside it. You will also need a large dutch oven or heavy ceramic pot with a lid.

Step 2

Combine the flour, yeast and salt together in a stand mixer with a dough hook.

Step 3

Add the warm water and gently mix together  until the dough starts to come together.

Step 4

Add the chopped olives and mix until well combined.

Step 5

Take the dough out of the bowl and knead very gently into a ball shape.

Step 6

Coat a large bowl with the olive oil and return the dough into the center of it.

Step 7

Cover with a clean towel and Let it sit until it doubles in size.

Step 8

Once it has risen, take it out of the bowl and lay it on your table. Roughly press the dough into a flat circle.

Step 9

Fold the dough over on itself kneading it back into a ball.

Step 10

Lay the dough onto the cornmeal dusted towel, seam side down.

Step 11

Dust the top of the dough with some extra cornmeal and cover with the towel again.

Step 12

Let rest until it's almost doubled in size again.

Step 13

Watch it closely and when you see that it's almost ready, preheat your oven to 450 degrees F and place the empty pot into it.

Step 14

When the oven has reached it's temperature, take off the top towel and using a sharp serrated knife, cut two slits across the top of the dough.

Step 15

Take the pot out of the oven and very carefully lift and drop the bread into the pot.

Step 16

Place the lid on and put it back into the oven. Bake for 30 minutes.

Step 17

After 30 minutes, take the lid from the pot and bake for a further 20-30 minutes and the crust is golden and crispy.

Step 18

Let cool before slicing.