Italian Prosciutto Bread Food

ITALIAN FLATBREAD (PIADINA) WITH FONTINA AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Combine the flour, baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of salt in the bowl of an upright mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until incorporated, about 2 minutes. With the machine running, slowly add 10 to 12 tablespoons water until the mixture forms a dough around the hook. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead for 5 minutes until smooth. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces. Form into disk shapes and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out each piece of dough into an 8 to 10-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Brush each circle with the extra-virgin olive oil and grill for 4 minutes each side. Remove the piadina from the grill to cool slightly. Combine the ricotta cheese and lemon zest in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Spread each piadina with 1/2 cup of the ricotta mixture. Sprinkle the fontina cheese evenly over the ricotta cheese. Arrange 2 prosciutto slices on top of the cheeses. Cut each piadina into 8 wedges and transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with the chopped basil.

PROSCIUTTO BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Unroll the French bread dough and sprinkle with the pepper. Cover with the prosciutto. Roll into a log and twist, pulling and shaping it into an 8-inch ring. Pinch the ends together.
• Place on the prepared baking sheet, brush with the oil and bake until golden, 20 minutes. Brush with more oil; bake 5 more minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with more oil before serving.

PROSCIUTTO BREAD

Steps:

• In bowl of electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix yeast and sugar with warm water; stir until dissolved. Let stand until foamy, 10 minutes.
• Add flour, salt, and pepper to yeast mixture. Mix on low speed until a smooth ball is formed (dough will be slightly sticky), 5 minutes. Transfer to a lightly floured surface, and pat into a 10-by-10-inch square. Scatter prosciutto and Fontina on top; press in.
• Pull four corners of dough into center, form a ball, and transfer, seam side down, to a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in volume, 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees with rack placed in lower third. Punch down dough, pull four corners of dough into center to form a ball, and place in lightly oiled pandoro mold, seam side up. Cover with plastic; let rise until it is even with the top of the mold and slightly mounded, 30 minutes. Brush top with egg glaze. Bake until top is a dark golden brown, 35 minutes. Cover bread with a tent of aluminum foil; reduce heat to 350 degrees. Continue baking until base of bread sounds hollow when tapped and sides are golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Unmold bread onto cooling rack, top side down, until completely cool, 1 hour. (If sides of bread are not brown, set bread on oven rack, top side down, for another 5 minutes, until golden.) Bread will keep wrapped in plastic wrap for 1 to 2 days, although fresh bread always tastes best.

ITALIAN PARTY BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
• Place pizza dough on a floured surface and roll into a rectangular shape between 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch thick, letting dough relax occasionally if it keeps springing back. Spread pesto on top, leaving about a 1-inch border around the edge. Top evenly with provolone cheese, prosciutto, and peppers.
• Roll up tightly in the direction that gives you the most length, ending with the seam on the bottom. Press down to flatten slightly and dust the top lightly with flour. Use a pizza wheel to cut dough lengthwise into 3 long, even strips using a pizza wheel.
• Place strips next to each other but not touching, the middle strip cut-side up and the other two cut-sides facing in. Braid them together, then curl the ends in to form a round wreath shape, tucking any loose ends under the loaf. Transfer onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until nicely browned, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve warm or at room temperature.