Italian Bread Bowls Recipes

ITALIAN BREAD BOWLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Add salt, oil and 4 cups flour to the yeast mixture; beat well. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well with an electric mixer at medium speed after each addition.
• When the dough has pulled together into a ball, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 40 minutes.
• Punch dough down, and divide into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into a 4 inch round loaf. Place loaves on lightly greased baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, about 35 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a small bowl, beat together egg white and 1 tablespoon water; lightly brush the loaves with half of this egg wash.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Brush with remaining egg mixture, and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks.
• To make bowls: Cut a 1/2 inch thick slice from top of each loaf; scoop out centers, leaving 3/4-inch-thick shells. Fill bread bowls with hot soup and serve immediately.

ITALIAN BREAD BOWLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Add salt, oil and 4 cups flour to the yeast mixture; beat well. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well with an electric mixer at medium speed after each addition.
• When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil.
• Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
• Punch dough down, and divide into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into a 4 inch round loaf.
• Place loaves on lightly greased baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, about 35 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, beat together egg white and 1 tablespoon water; lightly brush the loaves with half of this egg wash.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Brush with remaining egg mixture, and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks.
• To make bowls: Cut a 1/2 inch thick slice from top of each loaf; scoop out centers, leaving 3/4-inch-thick shells. Fill bread bowls with hot soup and serve immediately.

ITALIAN BREAD BOWLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Add salt, oil and 4 cups flour to the yeast mixture; beat well. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well with an electric mixer at medium speed after each addition.
• When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
• Punch dough down, and divide into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into a 4 inch round loaf. Place loaves on lightly greased baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, about 35 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a small bowl, beat together egg white and 1 tablespoon water; lightly brush the loaves with half of this egg wash.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Brush with remaining egg mixture, and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks.
• To make bowls: Cut a 1/2 inch thick slice from top of each loaf; scoop out centers, leaving 3/4-inch-thick shells. Fill bread bowls with hot soup and serve immediately.

ITALIAN EGG BREAD BOWL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Using a serrated knife, slice about 1 inch off the top crust of the Italian bread. Carefully tear out the insides of the loaf, leaving about 3/4-inch of bread to form a shell. Put the loaf on the prepared baking sheet, drizzle inside with some olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until slightly crispy, about 10 minutes. Cool on a baking rack while you make the eggs. Preheat the broiler.
• Heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until golden brown. Remove the sausage to a paper-towel-lined plate.
• Add the onion and the green and red peppers to the skillet; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Reduce the heat slightly, then add the chiles, sausage, parsley and basil; toss to combine. Stir in the eggs and about two-thirds of the provolone and cook, stirring, until the eggs just begin to set, less than 1 minute.
• Pour the egg mixture into the bread shell and top with the Parmesan and the remaining provolone. Broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the eggs are just cooked through, about 3 minutes. (You can use a cake tester to check--insert it into the eggs to see if it comes out with raw egg on it.)
• Transfer to a cutting board, let set for 1 or 2 minutes, and then slice into 4 to 6 wedges.

ITALIAN MEAT BOWLS

Steps:

• Combine the milk and 1/4 cup of the breadcrumbs in a large bowl and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, egg, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan and 1 teaspoon salt. Use your hands to stir everything together until well combined. Add the ground beef and mix until just combined.
• Drop rounded tablespoons of the meat mixture into a 24-cup miniature muffin tin. Use your fingers to push the meat into the bottom and up the sides of each cup to form a small bowl shape. Press 1 cube of mozzarella into each bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until solid, about 2 hours. (This can be done a day in advance.)
• Position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat it to 450 degrees F. Set a cooling rack over a rimmed baking sheet and spray it generously with cooking spray. Put the remaining 1/4 cup breadcrumbs in a small bowl.
• Use a small offset spatula or butter knife to help nudge the frozen meat bowls out of the muffin tin. Roll the outside of each bowl in the breadcrumbs to coat completely and place on the prepared rack. Spoon 1 teaspoon of marinara sauce into each bowl. Combine the oregano, crushed red pepper and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan in a small bowl and sprinkle some on each meat bowl.
• Bake, rotating the baking sheet once halfway through, until the meat is just cooked through and the breadcrumbs are crispy, 15 to 20 minutes.

ITALIAN BREAD BOWLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• Add salt, oil and 4 cups flour to the yeast mixture; beat well. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well with an electric mixer at medium speed after each addition.
• When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
• Punch dough down, and divide into 8 equal portions. Shape each portion into a 4 inch round loaf. Place loaves on lightly greased baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled in bulk, about 35 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a small bowl, beat together egg white and 1 tablespoon water; lightly brush the loaves with half of this egg wash.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Brush with remaining egg mixture, and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until golden. Cool on wire racks.
• To make bowls: Cut a 1/2 inch thick slice from top of each loaf; scoop out centers, leaving 3/4-inch-thick shells. Fill bread bowls with hot soup and serve immediately.