Bread Machine :Kalamata Olive Bread.

Bread Machine: Kalamata Olive Bread.

A rustic-style loaf with briny Kalamata olives, herbs, and a tender crumb — made effortlessly in your bread machine.

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🛒 INGREDIENTS (1 standard 1½–2 lb loaf)

IMPORTANT: Add ingredients in the order recommended by your bread machine manual.
If your manual doesn’t specify, use liquids first → dry ingredients → yeast last (the standard order below).

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LIQUID INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup + 2 tbsp warm water (250 ml)

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp liquid from the olive jar (optional but boosts flavor)

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DRY INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups bread flour

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 1½ tsp salt

• 1 tsp garlic powder (optional but recommended)

• 1 tsp dried rosemary (or thyme, oregano, or Italian seasoning)

• 2 tbsp dry milk powder (optional—makes softer crumb)

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YEAST

• 2¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
  or

• 2 tsp bread machine yeast

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ADD-INS (to be added at the machine’s “mix-in beep”)

• ¾ cup Kalamata olives, well-drained and chopped
  (Blot with paper towels to remove excess oil/juice)

• Optional:

  • ¼ cup diced sundried tomatoes

  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or basil

  • ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (drained well)

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🍞🧂 PREPARATION — LONG STEP-BY-STEP VERSION

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1. Prepare the olives

Olives must be well-drained or they will make the dough too wet.

1. Drain the olives.

2. Roughly chop them (not too fine — you want chunks).

3. Pat dry with paper towels.

4. Set aside until the machine beeps for add-ins.

🌿 Tip: If your olives are very salty, rinse quickly and pat completely dry.

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2. Add the liquid ingredients to the bread machine pan

Pour into the pan in this order:

1. Warm water

2. Olive oil

3. Olive brine (optional)

🎯 Why?
Liquid-first layering helps gluten form properly and keeps the yeast from being activated too early.

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3. Add dry ingredients on top of liquids

Add carefully in layers:

1. Bread flour

2. Sugar

3. Salt (add near the edge, not touching where yeast will go)

4. Garlic powder

5. Rosemary

6. Dry milk powder

Smooth the flour gently so it forms an even surface.

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4. Create a small well and add the yeast

Make a shallow indentation in the top of the flour (do not reach liquid).

Add:

• Active dry yeast or bread machine yeast

🎯 This prevents premature yeast activation.

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5. Select the bread machine cycle

Choose one of these settings:

• Basic / White Bread (best)

• French Bread (chewier crust)

• Dough Cycle (if you plan to shape and bake in oven)

Set:

• Crust: Light or Medium

• Loaf size: 1½ or 2 lb

Press Start.

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6. Add olives at the mix-in beep

Most bread machines beep 20–30 minutes into the cycle.

When you hear it:

• Add the chopped Kalamata olives

• Add optional sundried tomatoes or herbs

🎯 Do NOT add olives at the beginning — they will get mashed into paste.

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7. Let the machine knead and rise

The dough should look:

• Smooth

• Elastic

• Slightly tacky, not sticky

If needed:

• If dough is too dry → add 1 tsp water

• If too wet → add 1 tsp flour

(Do this within the first kneading cycle.)

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8. Let the machine bake the loaf

The machine will rise → punch down → rise again → bake.

When it finishes:

• Carefully remove pan

• Cool loaf on a rack at least 1 hour before slicing

🎯 Cooling prevents gummy, doughy texture.

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🍽️ HOW TO SERVE

Kalamata Olive Bread is amazing with:

• Olive oil + balsamic vinegar

• Hummus or baba ganoush

• Grilled chicken or lamb

• Tomato basil soup

• Charcuterie and cheese boards

• Pasta dishes

• Greek salads

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🌿 FLAVOR VARIATIONS (LONGER VERSION)

1. Greek-Style Kalamata Olive Bread

Add at beep:

• ¾ cup olives

• ¼ cup crumbled feta

• 1 tbsp fresh oregano
  Finish with olive oil brushed on top.

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2. Rosemary–Olive Artisan Bread

Add:

• 1 tsp rosemary in dough

• 1 tbsp extra rosemary at beep

• 1 tbsp olive oil brushed on crust after baking

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3. Kalamata + Sun-Dried Tomato Bread

Add at beep:

• ½ cup olives

• ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes

• ½ cup grated parmesan

Great for sandwiches.

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4. Spicy Mediterranean Olive Bread

Add:

• 1 chopped jalapeño or 1 tsp red pepper flakes

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• ½ cup olives

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5. Olive + Herb Focaccia (Bread Machine Dough Cycle)

Make dough only → remove → press into pan → top with:

• Olive oil

• Olives

• Cherry tomatoes

• Sea salt

• Rosemary

Bake at 425°F for 15–20 minutes.

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🛠️ TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

Bread too dense?

• Add 1 extra tbsp water

• Use bread flour, not all-purpose

• Make sure yeast is fresh

• Do NOT add olives too early

Loaf collapses?

• Too much liquid → reduce by 1–2 tbsp

• Salt too low → balance the dough

• Olives added too early → ruins structure

Bread too salty?

• Rinse olives

• Reduce salt to 1 tsp

• Skip adding olive brine

Bread too wet?

• Blot olives thoroughly

• Reduce water by 1 tbsp next time

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🧊 STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS

Room Temperature

3–4 days, wrapped in foil or airtight bag.

Refrigerator

Up to 1 week.

Freezer

Up to 2 months.
Slice before freezing for easy toasting.

OTHER RECIPES

Bread Machine Recipe Ingredients:

* 1/3 to 1/2 cup brine from olives
* Warm water, enough to make 1 1/2 cups when combined with brine
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 3 cups bread flour
* 1 2/3 cups whole wheat flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons dried leaf basil
* 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
* 1/2 to 2/3 cup finely chopped kalamata olives (about 2 dozen pitted olives)

Bread Machine Recipe Instruction:

Put brine in a 2-cup measure; add warm water to make 1 1/2 cups. 

Put all ingredients except for the olives in the bread machine according to your manufacturer's preferred order. 

Choose basic or wheat setting; add olives at the beep....enjoy it !

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