3 Cheese Prosciutto Bread Recipes

Steps:

• Step 1: Mix flour, malt powder and yeast in a stand mixer. Combine salt with flour mixture in the mixer bowl - this is done separately from the first mixing so the salt doesn't retard the action of the yeast. Step 2: Add water to mixing bowl and mix into flour with dough hook on low to moisten. Knead for seven minutes on medium speed. Mix in prosciutto on low speed. Dough should be slightly tacky but not sticky. If dough is too sticky knead in more flour a little at a time. If the dough is too dry, spray with a bit of water and knead. Step 3: Shape dough into a ball and place on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle dough with flour, cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes. Step 4: Roll dough into an 18" cylinder and form into a ring. Ensure the ends stick together and place on parchment paper on a large cookie sheet. Spray dough with cooking spray and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled for about 1 hour. I usually heat my oven to the lowest setting and then shut it off before placing dough into it to allow it to rise. Also, I like to let the last rise happen overnight but I didn't have time for that this time. Step 5: Use a pizza stone or baking sheet on a low shelf of the oven and place a baking sheet on the lowest shelf of the oven (or on the bottom of the oven if your heating element isn't on the bottom of the oven). Preheat oven to 450 degrees for at least 10 minutes. Step 6: Transfer bread to pizza stone or baking sheet in the preheated oven and brush with about 1/3 of melted butter. Add about half to a dozen ice cubes into the baking sheet on lowest shelf of the oven. Step 7: Bake 15 minutes. Remove parchment paper and turn bread front to back to allow for even baking. Brush bread with about another 1/3 of melted butter. Add another dozen ice cubes. Bake another 5 minutes. Reduce temperature to 400 degrees. Bake another 10 to 15 minutes. Step 8: Turn off oven and leave bread in the oven with door propped open for another 5 minutes. Step 9: Remove bread from oven and brush with the remaining butter. Allow to cool but if you aren't having company or bringing this bread to a function, this bread tastes delicious slightly warm and crispy. Use this bread to make Saveur's stuffing.

Steps:

• Either make or purchase a 1.5 lb loaf of French or Italian bread (torpedo or batard shape).
• Slice along entire loaf without cutting all the way through the bottom crust.
• Cut the proscuitto into enough pieces to allow a piece per slice of bread.
• Mix the garlic into the cheese.
• Into each slice, slip one piece of ham and 1 to 2 tablespoons of cheese and garlic mixture.
• Line a baking sheet with a piece of foil 3 to 4 inches longer than the loaf.
• Crumple another sheet of foil to fit in the middle of the first sheet of foil to raise the middle of the loaf.
• Set the loaf on the crumpled foil so that the loaf is arched.
• Wrap the first sheet of foil around the loaf allowing the top of the loaf to be exposed and twist the ends of the foil to form a tight package.
• Sprinkle any remaining cheese mixture along the top of the loaf.
• Place in the center of a 350F oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is partially browned.
• Carefully remove the bottom sheet of foil and serve on a long platter or serve with the foil pulled away from the loaf for access.