Italian Herb Bread Machine Recipe
This recipe is for a delicious and easy Italian herb bread that you can make in your bread machine. The bread is soft and flavorful, and it is perfect for sandwiches, soups, or just to enjoy on its own.
The tantalizing aroma of savory spices wafted through my home as the Italian Herb Bread baked in the bread machine. The symphony of parsley, basil, marjoram, and thyme filled the air, beckoning me to the kitchen like a siren’s song.
I’ve always been drawn to the comforting scent of freshly baked bread, and this particular loaf was no exception. The Italian Herb Bread, with its blend of herbs, promised a savory treat that would indulge both my taste buds and my olfactory senses.
As I removed the golden-brown loaf from the bread machine, the aroma intensified, filling every corner of my home with a warm, inviting fragrance. The bread itself was soft and pillowy, with a hint of sweetness that complemented the savory spices perfectly.
I couldn’t resist the temptation and sliced off a piece of the warm bread. As I took a bite, the flavors danced on my tongue, each herb playing its part in a harmonious blend. The parsley added a fresh, grassy note, while the basil provided a sweet, minty undertone. The marjoram brought a hint of earthiness, and the thyme rounded out the flavor with a touch of warmth.
The Italian Herb Bread was a culinary delight, a testament to the power of simple ingredients combined with careful preparation. It was a bread that could be enjoyed on its own, savoring the nuances of each herb, or paired with a variety of dishes, adding a touch of savory goodness to any meal.
For those who own a bread machine, I encourage you to try this recipe and experience the joy of baking fresh bread with ease. And for those who don’t yet own a bread machine, consider investing in one. It’s an appliance that can bring the aroma of freshly baked bread and the satisfaction of home-cooked goodness into your life.
Bread making has become an integral part of my life, a source of creativity and culinary exploration. With each recipe I try, I learn new techniques and discover new flavor combinations. The process of transforming simple ingredients into a loaf of warm, fragrant bread is truly magical.
I hope you’ll give this Italian Herb Bread recipe a try and share in the joy of baking bread. It’s a recipe that will tantalize your senses and leave you wanting more.
The ingredients you will need for the bread machine recipe
- Water: Water is essential for all bread doughs. It hydrates the flour and other ingredients, allowing them to form a cohesive dough. It also helps to activate the yeast and promote fermentation.
- Skim milk powder: Skim milk powder is a dried form of milk with the fat removed. It adds flavor and richness to bread dough, and it also helps to make the dough more tender.
- Salt: Salt is a flavor enhancer and helps strengthen the gluten in the dough.
- Sugar: Sugar provides food for the yeast, which helps it to ferment and produce carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide gas is what gives bread its light and airy texture.
- Shortening or vegetable oil: Shortening or vegetable oil adds fat to the dough, which helps to make it tender and moist.
- All-purpose flour or bread flour: All-purpose flour is a good all-around flour for bread baking. Bread flour has a higher protein content than all-purpose flour, which gives it more strength and elasticity.
- Snipped fresh parsley: Snipped fresh parsley adds a bright, herbaceous flavor to the bread.
- Dried basil: Dried basil adds a sweet, minty flavor to the bread.
- Dried marjoram: Dried marjoram adds a hint of earthiness to the bread.
- Dried thyme: Dried thyme rounds out the flavor of the bread with a touch of warmth.
- Bread machine yeast: Bread machine yeast is a type of yeast that is specifically designed for use in bread machines. It is active dry yeast, which means that it does not need to be proofed before it is added to the dough.
Instructions
Like most bread machine recipes, the instructions are simple.
- Measure ingredients into the baking pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Insert the pan into the oven chamber.
- Select Basic Cycle. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions.
Notes and Tips for the Italian Herb Bread machine recipe
- For a softer crust, brush the top of the bread with olive oil before placing it in the bread machine.
- If you don’t have skim milk powder, you can substitute it with 1/4 cup of water.
- If you don’t have fresh parsley, you can use one tablespoon of dried parsley flakes.
- You can add other herbs to the bread, such as oregano, rosemary, or sage.
- Measure all of the ingredients carefully.
- Add the ingredients to the bread machine pan in the order listed.
- Select the appropriate setting on your bread machine.
- Let the bread machine do its thing!
- When the cycle is complete, remove the bread from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.
- If the dough is too dry, add more water, one tablespoon at a time, until it is consistent.
- If the dough is too wet, add a little more flour, one tablespoon at a time, until it is the correct consistency.
- The bread should be golden brown and firm to the touch when it is done.
- Let the bread cool completely before slicing.
- Store the bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Here are some ways to enjoy Italian Herb Bread:
- On its own: Italian Herb Bread is delicious on its own, savored for its soft texture and flavorful crust.
- With butter or olive oil: For a richer flavor, slather the bread with butter or olive oil.
- With cheese: Add a layer of shredded Parmesan, mozzarella, or Provolone cheese for a cheesy twist.
- As a sandwich: Use Italian Herb Bread as the base for your favorite sandwiches. Make our Turkey Lunch Meat.
- As a side dish: Serve Italian Herb Bread alongside soups, salads, or pasta dishes.
- For dipping: Dip Italian Herb Bread in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, or hummus.
- For breakfast: Toast Italian Herb Bread and top it with jam, fruit, or yogurt.
- For dessert: Slice Italian Herb Bread and serve it with fresh fruit and cream cheese.
Italian Herb Bread is a versatile bread that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Get creative and experiment with your own favorite toppings and combinations.
The recipe is from “250 Best Canadian Bread Machine” by Donna Washburn and Heather Butt.
Italian Herb Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups water
- ¼ cup skim milk powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons shortening or vegetable oil
- 4 cups all-purpose flour or bread flour
- 1/3 cup snipped fresh parsley
- 1 ¼ teaspoons dried basil
- 1 ¼ teaspoons dried marjoram
- 1 ¼ teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 ¼ teaspoons bread machine yeast
Instructions
- Measure ingredients into baking pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Insert pan into the oven chamber
- Select Basic Cycle. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions.
Notes
Nutrition
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
Nutrition info is automatically generated and provided as a courtesy and as an estimate only.
