HOW TO MAKE OLIVE OIL BREAD
OLIVE OIL QUICK BREAD WITH PANCETTA, DATES AND GOAT CHEESE
(Makes One Loaf) INGREDIENTS 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
90g pancetta, chopped into pea-size pieces
1/2 medium onion, minced (1/2 cup)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
12 pitted dates, chopped into pea-size pieces (about 1 cup)
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves 2 teaspoons minced fresh chives
1/2 cup whole milk
3 large eggs
About 90g (1/3 cup) fresh goat cheese, crumbled into pea-size pieces
METHOD Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Coat the inside of your loaf pan with cooking oil spray. Line a plate with a paper towel.
Cook the pancetta in a dry skillet over medium heat until crisped, about 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pancetta to the lined plate to drain. As needed, pour off all but about a teaspoon of the rendered fat in the pan, then return to medium heat and add the onion.
Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until wilted and lightly browned in spots. Remove from the heat.
Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the chopped dates and fresh parsley, rosemary and chives; use your fingers to break up the sticky pieces and coat them with the flour mixture. This will help keep those solids from sinking to the bottom during baking.
Whisk together the oil, milk and eggs in a liquid measuring cup until well incorporated. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture; pour in the oil mixture. Use a flexible spatula to gently stir and combine the liquid and dry ingredients, scraping the dry ingredients up from the bottom of the bowl regularly. Once there are no white streaks remaining, stir in the crisped pancetta, cooked onion and goat cheese until evenly distributed.
Scrape into the prepared pan. Bake (middle rack) for 55 to 65 minutes, until the cake has risen to form a golden brown crown and a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Turn out from the pan onto a wire rack to cool for at least 10 minutes.
From Bring It! columnist and cookbook Author Cathy Barrow. | The Washington Post