Jalapeno Cheddar Dutch Oven Bread Recipe

🧂 Ingredients

• 1 packet instant yeast

  2-1/4 teaspoons/7 grams
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 3.5 cups bread flour

  + more as needed - I often need 4 cups
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 3-4 jalapeno peppers

  chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon chili flakes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

  or melted butter
• 1 jalapeno pepper

  thinly sliced

Instructions

• 1 In a large bowl, stir the instant yeast and salt into the warm water until
  dissolved.
• 2 Add the bread flour, chopped jalapeno peppers, 2.5 cups of cheddar cheese, and
  seasonings. Stir together until a sticky dough forms. If it feels too sticky,
  mix in up to 1/2 cup extra bread flour.
• 3 Fold the dough from the outer edges into the center several times, rotating the
  bowl as you go. Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and set in a warm place for
  1 hour, until the dough rises.
• 4 Fold the dough again from the outer edges into the center, then cover and rest
  another 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• 5 While the dough is resting, preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Set the Dutch oven
  with the lid into the hot oven and heat for 30 minutes.
• 6 Transfer the dough onto parchment paper dusted with flour and form into a round
  loaf. I use a rubber spatula. Score the top of the bread with a knife, then
  brush the top of the loaf with olive oil.
• 7 Top with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese and the jalapeno slices.
• 8 Carefully remove the hot Dutch oven from the oven and remove the lid. Lift the
  parchment paper and dough and place into the hot Dutch oven. Cover with the hot
  lid and bake for 30 minutes.
• 9 Remove the lid and bake for 20 minutes or longer, until a golden brown crust
  develops.
• 10 Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and rest on a wire rack for at least 10
  minutes before slicing. 1 hour is preferred.

Nutrition Info