Bundt Garlic- Parmesan Pull Apart Bread With Tomato-Parsley Sauce, Step Wise & The New Winner Of ‘Only’ Mangoes

Hi!
There are certain recipes that captures one’s attention the first time one reads it and then one gets desperate to try it. One such recipe that instantly clicked in my heart and brain was the Bundt Garlic and Parmesan Pull Apart Bread made by Pastry Affair.

I believe that when one read’s a recipe, one eats it first through one’s eyes, then imagine the flavors mentally and when finally, one tries it in their kitchen the virtual image turns into a physical reality. I truly followed the sequence this time. I was awed by the picture and technique and imagined the flavors and I was so desperate to try it that creating the  physical reality also happened very fast.

Last week it so happened that I had my eldest nephew Abhi visiting us for a week and I was having a good time dishing out my preparations in an ecstatic mode to him but at the same time I was mentally perturbed, as the younger one who is entering his teens has been giving all of us a difficult time for the last few weeks. He suddenly gets into a very adamant mood and things go completely haywire in the house. Initially I handled it with lots of patience but since his attitude is not changing I get irritated at times and lose my patience. I know, I know, I should not be doing that, and I curse myself after I’ve yelled and screamed  but what to do, by then the arrow is already shot and I regret later. Every time I have a difficult time with him, I tell myself, take a day at a time and things would settle, I gear myself again and counsel him. If you have any suggestions on how the adamant behaviour be controlled during teens and how to help them control their anger, I’m all ears..

So, when Abhi and the elder one decided to go and meet friends on a weekend, I realized I had enough food for myself and I could indulge myself in making something interesting and creative to loosen up myself. I have always reiterated that working with yeast is therapeutic for me. I decided to make the pull apart rolls in the Bundt. I was  very apprehensive through out the procedure and every step accomplished successfully was making me so excited. When I finally unmolded my Bundt, I was on cloud nine. It was beautiful to see and I clicked it frantically. The younger one arrived from school around the same time and was excited too. When I pulled the first roll, my heart was beating so fast and when I saw the sponge and softness inside it, I knew it was a winner. It was indeed a great start to the use of my Bundt pan.

Every one in the family loved it and DH was all praises about it. In fact he told me to bake a one for his office, so that he could show off his wife’s baking skills. That was indeed very sweet of him to say that and I adore you S for all those sweet things you say, when I cook well.

These rolls taste well by themselves but I made a tomato-parsley sauce to go along with it. One can also make a Marinara sauce, like the Pastry Affair did or try this Tomato-Red Bell Peppers and Basil Sauce.This bread can make a good appetizer to go with a bowl of hot soup, also a perfect finger food for kids. I’ve tweaked this recipe a little to suit my certain requirements.

Since, it looks so attractive, it can be served in a party with a dipping sauce. The guests would love to enjoy pulling and feasting the bread.

I’m also declaring the new winner of ‘Only’ Mangoes as the previously declared winner Shilpi did not grab the win. I’ve again used random picker and the new number is no.5, which of Eggless mango mousse by Aromatic Kitchen. Congrats Hema, please mail me your address in India with a landmark, proper pin code and your cell number to cookingoodfood@gmail.com within two days.

Bundt Garlic Parmesan Pull Apart Bread

Preparation Time:15mins| Rising Time:2hrs| Cooking Time: 25-30mins | Serves:8-10| Category: Bread| Difficulty:Moderate

 

Ingredients

For The Bread

3-1/2cups APF/maida

2tsp dry active yeast

a pinch of sugar

1-1/3cups water

2tsp salt

2tbsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)

1tsp garlic powder

For The Butter-Spice Mix

1/4 cup molten butter (unsalted)

2garlic cloves, grated

1tsp red chili flakes

1tsp oregano

1tsp basil

To sprinkle

1/4cup grated parmesan cheese

Method For Bread

Proofing The Yeast

Heat the water to make it lukewarm and add a pinch of sugar and the yeast. If the yeast is good it will get active and froth up, this is called proofing the yeast.

 

Kneading The Bread Dough

To the APF, add salt and garlic powder, EVOO and mix. Gradually add the yeast mixture and knead the dough. Knead the dough for 8-10mins on the floor, till it’s smooth and elastic and does not stick to your hand. If required dust APF on the floor while kneading.

 

First Rise

Place dough in a greased bowl and cover it. Keep it in a warm place and let it rise to almost double the volume. This takes about 1-2hrs.

 

Knocking the dough

Once the dough has doubled in volume, punch it down to escape the gas and knead again. This process is called knocking.

 

Butter-spice mix

While the dough rises, melt the butter and add grated garlic, chilli flakes, basil and oregano. Keep the mix aside. Also grate the parmesan cheese and keep it aside.

 

Making bread balls

Grease a Bundt pan properly, this ensures easy unmolding of the bread. Tear pieces of the dough (roughly the size of the bowl of a medium spoon) and make balls. Dip the ball in the butter mix and place them in the Bundt pan. Keep making the balls till a layer is made. Spread 1/3rd of the parmesan cheese over the balls.

In the similar way make three layers.

 

Second Rise

Cover the balls with a damp towel or greased plate and let the balls double in volume again. Based on the outside temperature, this can take 20mins-1hour.

Baking The bread

Bake the balls in a preheated oven at 175-180C for 25-35mins, till the crust turns golden in color.

Unmold the bread and serve warm with Tomato-Parsley sauce.

 

Ingredients For Tomato Parsley sauce

3large tomatoes

1/4th of red bell pepper

a pinch of black pepper

1tsp sugar

salt to taste

1tbsp freshly chopped parsley

1garlic clove crushed

2-3tsp oil

Method for sauce

Heat oil lightly and sauté the garlic.

Add tomatoes, salt and sugar. Mix thoroughly and cook covered till mushy.

Add the chili flakes, pepper.

Add the parsley.

Add the bell pepper and cook for a minute and serve.

Since I used the convection mode of the microwave to bake this bread, I’m sending it to my event ‘Only’ Microwave Cooking, hosted here and Nithu’s Healthy Food For Healthy Kids- Preschooler Snacks, guest hosted here.Also, sending  it to Radhika's Lets Cook17-Breads. Also reposting chickpea flour cigars for Only Microwave Cooking