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Greek Olive Bread (Eliopsomo) with Kalamata Olives and Herbs

Olive oil bread Greek style

Eliopsomo is a rustic Greek olive bread made with a soft olive oil dough, briny Kalamata olives, and herbs like oregano and rosemary.
Mixed and kneaded until elastic, the olives are folded in, shaped into an oval loaf, proofed with more olives and herbs on top, then baked until deep golden and crusty outside, soft and fragrant inside. Vegan, Mediterranean, and perfect warm with olive oil.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: greek
Calories: 234
Ingredients Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 1/2 cups 430g bread flour + extra for dusting
  • 1 1/4 cup 300ml warm water
  • 2 tsp dry yeast
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup Greek extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives halved
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano 1 tbsp fresh rosemary chopped
  • pinch of orange zest optional, very Greek

Method
 

  1. Mix: Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. In a large bowl combine flour, salt, oregano. Make a well, pour in yeast water and olive oil. Mix to a shaggy dough.
  2. Knead: Turn out and knead 8-10 min until elastic. Fold in olives, rosemary, oregano gently so you don't crush the olives. Dough will be slightly sticky and fragrant.
  3. First rise & shape: Cover, rise 1 hour until doubled. Shape into an oval loaf on parchment, press whole olives on top, drizzle with olive oil, scatter more herbs and sea salt. Cover 30 min.
  4. Bake: Bake at 200°C / 390°F for 35-40 min until deep golden and hollow-sounding. Cool on rack, then slice to show that olive-studded crumb.

Video

Notes

Rustic Eliopsomo is best warm from the oven with extra virgin olive oil. Use well-drained Kalamata olives and don't overwork the dough after adding them — it keeps the crumb soft and the olives juicy. Keeps 3 days at room temp, freezes beautifully.
Pat Kalamatas completely dry, then toss them in 1 tbsp flour before folding in — they won't sink and won't make the dough soggy.