Twisted Pesto Bread (vegan)
This twisted pesto bread is a party winner! Warm, crispy out of the oven and filled with yummy vegan basil-walnut pesto this twisted bread goes perfectly along with a mocktail or glass of rosé!
Servings Prep Time
10people 45minutes
Cook Time
50minutes
Servings Prep Time
10people 45minutes
Cook Time
50minutes
Ingredients
Bread
Basil-Walnut-Pesto
Instructions
Bread
  1. In order to make the bread dough follow the instructions for my “Zopf Braided Bread” Recipe. Once the dough has risen, continue with the instructions below “Forming the twisted bread”.
Basil-Walnut-Pesto
  1. Place all ingredients in a food processor and blitz until you get a creamy, smooth pesto consistency.
Forming the twisted bread
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC.
  2. Cut the dough into 2 equal parts for one rather big pesto bread, or into 4 equal parts for 2 medium pesto breads.
  3. Using a rolling pin, roll out each part into an aprox. 40 x 40 cm square.
  4. Place 2 heaped tablespoons of the pesto onto the square.
  5. Roll it up from one side, forming 1 roll.
  6. Cut this roll in half (lengthwise).
  7. Twist each half roll and put aside.
  8. Repeat step 2-6 with the other half of the dough, resp. the other 3 halves, if you make two breads.
  9. Now, once you have your 4, resp. 8 “twisted half rolls”: Take 2 of these “twisted half rolls” and twist them into each other. Repeat with the remaining two.
  10. Then twist these 2 again into each other, forming the final bread. Place them on the baking tray.
  11. Repeat step 8 and 9 with the remaining 4 “twisted half rolls” in case you make 2 breads.
  12. Bake at 200ºC for aprox. 50 minutes. Check during the last 15 minutes if the pesto doesn’t get too dark. If it starts burning, but the bread still needs a bit, then cover with some aluminium foil in order to avoid burning.
Recipe Notes

The steps sound more complicated than they really are. It is basically just cutting the dough into equal parts and then making the rolls and then just twisting them in each other until you finally form the bread. Just give it a go, it is not so difficult and I’m sure the bread will turn out fine!

This bread can also be prepared in advance and then frozen. The day you want to serve the bread, let it defrost over night and bake it for 5-10 minutes in the oven, so it will be crispy again.