July 17, 2024

Homemade Greek Surprise Bread

A surprise bread revisited with Greek flavors, ideal for a friendly aperitif or buffet. Discover a variety of traditional Greek mezzes hidden in delicious country bread. Perfect for impressing your guests and transporting them to Greece for a meal.

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Prep Time 30

Cook Time 40

Rest time 1 30

Total Time 2 40

Course Appetizer, Main course

Cuisine French cuisine, Greek Cuisine

Servings people

Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

1 large bowl
1 Salad bowl
1 Damp cloth
1 Floured work surface
1 Oven
1 Baking tray
1 Parchment paper
1 Bread Knife
1 Cookie cutter for the bread
Small bowls for toppings

Ingredients

Ingredients for the Bread:

500 gr bread flour
300 ml lukewarm water
1 packet of dry baker's yeast
1 T to c. sugar
2 T to c. this
2 T to s. olive oil

Ingredients for the Topping:

200 gr tzatziki
200 gr tarama
150 gr feta cheese
150 gr graviera (or kefalotyri)
150 gr kasseri
200 gr Red peppers grilled
150 gr louza (dried pork tenderloin)
150 gr pastourma (dried beef with spices)
Kalamata olives for decoration

Instructions

Instructions for preparing the Bread:

In a bowl, mix the yeast and sugar with a little lukewarm water. Let sit for 10 minutes until the mixture foams.
In a large salad bowl, mix the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and add the activated yeast and olive oil.
Gradually add the rest of the lukewarm water while mixing until you obtain a homogeneous paste.
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth and leave to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Oil your cookie cutter then flour it. Degas the dough. Then put your dough inside and wait until it grows a second time and forms a ball. Be careful that it doesn't overflow, then move on to the next step in the meantime.

Baking Bread:

Preheat the oven to 220°C (430°F).
Bake for 30-40 minutes until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when you tap the bottom. It also depends on the type of oven.
Let cool completely on a rack.

Preparation of Toppings:

Cut the feta, graviera and kasseri into small pieces.
Cut the roasted red peppers into strips.
Arrange the louza and pastourma into thin slices.

Assembling the Surprise Bread:

Once the bread has cooled, cut the top of the bread to create a "cap" and carefully scoop out the inside of the bread, leaving a thick crust.
Start by going around the inside of the crust and then making three incisions that meet in a Y shape with your knife one centimeter below the base of your bread. The large block of crumb should then come out normally. Feel free to watch the video for this step.
Fill the small sandwiches with the different fillings: tzatziki, tarama, pieces of feta, graviera, kasseri, strips of roasted red peppers, and slices of louza and pastourma.
The goal is for your slices to be thin and to hold together. If you are not very comfortable, use small ready-made pots of tarama and tzatziki type cream and spread.
Then put the different sandwiches back into the crust of the bread.
Replace the “cap” of the bread.
Decorate with kalamata olives or the remains of your sauces on the side so that your guests can eat the crust of your bread at the end.

Nutrition

Serving: 150grCalories: 350kcal

Keyword bread filled with Greek ingredients, festive Greek bread, Greek appetizer bread, Greek deli bread, Greek party bread, Greek stuffed bread, Greek-style pull-apart bread, meze bread, savory Greek bread recipe, stuffed bread with feta and olives

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

An explosion of flavors with Greek surprise bread

Greek surprise bread is more than just an aperitif. It embodies a gourmet marriage between traditional baking and Mediterranean mezzés. Each bite offers a generous combination of textures and tastes.

A fusion of bakery and mezze

An original and authentic idea

This artisan bread features a crisp crust and a soft center, filled with ingredients typical of Greek cuisine. Indeed, this recipe is a perfect illustration of Hellenic hospitality.

A Mediterranean culinary voyage

Thanks to its many flavors, this dish transforms every aperitif into an unforgettable experience. It reflects the richness of the Greek table while adapting to the varied tastes of guests.

A varied, gourmet garnish

Tasty ingredients

Tzatziki brings freshness and lightness. Tarama, on the other hand, offers a salty marine touch. Greek cheeses such as feta, graviera or kasseri add texture and character.

A harmony of textures

Roasted red peppers add a delicate smoky note. Finally, dried meats such as louza or pastourma complete the picture with well-balanced spicy aromas.

An ideal dish for entertaining

An impressive presentation

This bread immediately attracts attention with its generous format and appetizing colors. It’s a perfect addition to any buffet or party. Greek surprise bread is perfect for special occasions and family gatherings. It seduces with its generous presentation and varied flavors. It’s a natural choice for a buffet or aperitif dinner.

A festive atmosphere guaranteed

With each slice, guests discover a new flavor. This moment of surprise reinforces the pleasure of sharing and creates memories around the table.

Interesting nutritional benefits

A concentrate of nutritional benefits

As well as being tasty, this surprise bread is packed with healthy ingredients. Each component provides valuable nutritional value. Their combination makes this dish as nourishing as it is balanced. So it appeals to gourmets and the diet-conscious alike.

Tzatziki, a digestive ally

Tzatziki contains protein-rich Greek yoghurt and probiotics. Probiotics naturally help balance intestinal flora. What’s more, the garlic and cucumber it contains enhance its digestive power. This mezze brings freshness and well-being to the meal.

Greek cheeses of exceptional quality

Feta cheese, made from sheep’s or goat’s milk, contains high levels of calcium. This mineral is essential for strong bones. At the same time, graviera and kasseri add quality protein. Together, these cheeses offer a complete and balanced intake.

Vegetables: a source of essential vitamins

Roasted red peppers add a sweet, smoky note. But they’re also rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene. These elements boost the immune system and skin health. By incorporating them, surprise bread gains in color and nutrients.

Tasty traditional charcuterie

Louza and pastourma are two intensely flavored dried meats. They provide a good dose of animal protein. What’s more, their traditional spices add natural antioxidants. They complement the bread with a full-bodied, typically Greek touch.

An alliance between pleasure and balance

This surprise bread is the perfect combination of gourmet goodness and health benefits. It offers a real alternative to overly fatty or sugary aperitifs. It’s a festive, healthy and tasty option. Each bite becomes a simple gesture to indulge yourself while eating well.

An immersion in Greek mezzés

Greek surprise bread is more than just an aperitif. It’s a tribute to the richness of traditional mezzés. These simple yet refined preparations play an essential role in Greek meals. By bringing them together in a single loaf, this recipe offers a gradual, gourmet discovery of the treasures of Hellenic cuisine.

An emblematic range

Each topping on the surprise bread symbolizes a specialty handed down through the generations. Tzatziki, with its fresh, garlicky taste, recalls summer meals shared with family. Tarama, meanwhile, evokes the iodized flavors of the Aegean Sea. Cheeses such as feta and graviera embody the deep connection between Greece and its agricultural lands. In short, each ingredient reflects a region, a tradition and a know-how.

Discovery in every bite

The inside of the surprise bread gives each slice a unique combination. The sweet, refreshing tzatziki contrasts with the salty strength of the tarama. Crumbly feta and other creamy cheeses balance it all out. Together, these ingredients create a perfect harmony of textures and flavors. In this way, every bite becomes a sensory exploration that reveals the soul of Greek gastronomy. This recipe is the perfect way to discover the many facets of Mediterranean cuisine.

A customizable recipe

Greek surprise bread is also very versatile. It can easily be adapted to suit all tastes. This flexibility makes it possible to reinvent the recipe with each preparation.

Ingredients to suit every taste

Garnishes are never set in stone. Stuffed olives, for example, can be added for an intensely salty note. At the same time, dried tomatoes add a tangy sweetness. And a few dried fruits like figs or raisins create a pleasant sweet-savory contrast. In this way, each version of the bread offers a unique experience, depending on the ingredients chosen.

Infinite combinations

It’s perfectly possible to experiment with other types of cheese or Greek charcuterie. Manouri, which is milder than feta, adds a different kind of creaminess. As for Greek salami or soutzouka, they offer original spicy touches. By varying textures and aromas, the result is as tasty as it is surprising.

An anti-waste recipe

This surprise bread is also an excellent way to make the most of leftovers. In fact, it allows you to reuse leftover mezze from a previous meal. A few spoonfuls of tzatziki, a handful of olives or bits of cheese can be enough. In this way, you avoid waste while creating a generous, tasty dish.

A Tribute to Greek Terroir: Quality Cheeses and Cured Meats

Local Greek products

The Greek cheese and charcuterie platter reflects the richness of local traditions. Each ingredient is carefully selected to guarantee quality, taste and authenticity. Indeed, these products are often made in rural areas, in the heart of Greece.

Sheep's or goat's milk cheeses

Greek cheeses are renowned for their intense flavor and unique texture. Made from sheep’s or goat’s milk, they are rich in nutrients. The milk generally comes from small family farms in mountainous areas. Among the best-known varieties are feta, manouri, graviera and kasseri. Each of these cheeses offers a different personality, making it possible to create a varied and balanced platter.

Handcrafted charcuterie full of character

Greek charcuterie is prepared according to ancient recipes handed down from generation to generation. Louza, originally from the Cyclades, has a tender, slightly spicy taste. Pastourma, on the other hand, has a stronger flavor, enhanced by local spices. These products are air-dried or smoked using traditional methods. In this way, they retain all their flavor and aromatic richness.

Support for local producers

Choosing a platter of Greek cheeses and charcuterie is also a gesture in favor of the local economy. Every purchase helps support families, breeders and passionate craftsmen. What’s more, it helps preserve sustainable farming practices and ancestral know-how. So this tray becomes much more than a simple assortment: it symbolizes love of the land and pride in Greek traditions.

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