Italian Herb Bread Machine Recipe
This recipe isn’t just for Italian Herb Bread; it’s an experience for your senses. Imagine the warm, inviting fragrance of herbs wafting through your home as your bread machine does the work.
The moment you open the lid, the golden-brown loaf beckons you in. Soft and pillowy, with a touch of sweetness that perfectly complements the savory herbs, this bread is a symphony of flavors.
Each bite is a delightful dance on your tongue. Fresh parsley, sweet basil with a hint of mint, earthy marjoram, and warming thyme come together in perfect harmony.
This Italian Herb Bread is more than just a recipe; it’s a testament to the magic of fresh-baked bread. Enjoy it on its own, savoring the unique notes of each herb, or pair it with your favorite dishes for an extra touch of flavor.
For bread machine owners, this recipe is a must-try. It’s the easiest way to experience the joy of baking fresh bread at home. Don’t have a bread machine? Consider investing in one. It’s an appliance that can transform your kitchen into a haven of fresh-baked aromas and homemade goodness.
Breadmaking is a journey of creativity and exploration. Each recipe unveils new techniques and flavor combinations. Witnessing the transformation of simple ingredients into a warm, fragrant loaf is pure magic.
We invite you to embark on this sensory adventure with our Italian Herb Bread recipe. It’s an experience that will 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.
Originally published on October 6, 2014. Revised and updated.
