Recipe

Put Some Spring in Your Bread

Community Pick!

Put Some Spring in Your Bread

Photo 1 of 2
by boulangere

Put Some Spring in Your Bread

Photo 2 of 2
by boulangere

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Spring Vegetable Recipe
  • ChezSuzanne's Testing Notes: When I make a bread like this, I wonder why I ever buy bread in the store when it can be so easy to throw together a loaf of quick bread with such satisfying results. This bread came together...

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  • Chef

    boulangere's Notes: This quick bread can be mixed, in the oven, and cool enough to slice but still melt butter by the time dinner is ready for the table. Fresh peas lightly blanched - I used fresh little English...

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Makes 1 large or 2 small beautifully browned round loaf

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Anchor the corners if using a convection oven so that the parchment doesn't fly loose and cover the bread.

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  2. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add the peas, chives (snip them in with some scissors), and lemon zest. Toss to blend.

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  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil and eggs. Whisk in the buttermilk or sour milk (basically milk with a teaspoon of vinegar - not balsamic, turns it a frightening color - microwaved for 30 seconds; alternatively, use truly sour milk) and honey. Add to dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until just blended.

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  4. The dough will be very sticky. That's okay. Turn out onto a generously floured surface. Pat your palms in the flour. Shape the dough into a dome, or divide in half and shape into 2 domes (they'll bake faster this way). Don't worry about flour on its surface; it will look nicely rustic. Carefully transfer to your baking sheet.

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  5. Bake for about 45 minutes (about 25 if 2 smaller loaves), until risen, crackled open, deeply golden brown, and your kitchen is oh so fragrant. If you must, insert a long skewer into the dead center. If it's gummy, add 5 minute increments until it isn't.

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  6. Let cool enough to be able to handle and slice easily. Light some candles, pour some wine, and toast yet another fine day.

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61 Comments on Put Some Spring in Your Bread

Img_2764 Reply

Thank you ChezSuzanne for your sweet review. I love your husband's idea!

Chocolate_peppermint_truffle_cookies_032 Reply

Made this delicious bread today! I just loved it!! It's really so fresh and Spring-like. I can't wait to experiment with other veggies and herbs. Great job!

Img_2764 Reply

Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed it. By all means experiment with vegetables, herbs, flavors, and please let us know the results!

Johnart Reply

Great Bread, Thanks for the milk & vinegar = sour milk trick.

Img_2764 Reply

Always handy to know.

Imag0139 Reply

This bread was not only fun to make but absolutely yummy...first time i have ever made bread;)

Img_2764 Reply

HOORAY for you!!

Oldies_joemare_bd Reply

I made this bread the other day and it was so incredibly delicioius, had it for dinner with salad and it was just wonderful and so easy to make reminds of irish soda bread that I make every year on St. Paddy's day. I am going to try some variations with different veggies and I wanted to see what you think of putting nicely drained pancetta in it as a breakfast bread, was thinking how great would that be with some eggs. Do you think that would work?

Img_2764 Reply

sd, I think your pancetta idea sounds both brilliant and heavenly.

Junepr05 Reply

I am just seeing this recipe now! I am going to adapt it and put all those great springtime veggies into a Challah. What do you think? ;)

Img_2764 Reply

Please let us know how that works for you.

Reply

I had the privilege of trying this bread. I never would have thought of putting peas in a bread. It was very delicious.

Dsc_0382 Reply

Just beautiful, simple and so creative!

Img_2764 Reply

Simple is right. Thank you so much!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

Just brilliant, boulangere.

Img_2764 Reply

You are too kind!

Ab_sum Reply

Brilliant, indeed! I can almost smell this off the screen!

Img_2764 Reply

LOL!

Cimg0737 Reply

I am a big fan of quick breads. Looks delicious and so inventive. I think that I have all of the ingredients to make this, so long as there is no frozen pea stigma. :) And I am with wssmom -- hooray, no kneading! Love the pics too -- especially the photo with all your students.

Img_2764 Reply

Consider yourself absolved! I surprised them - they didn't know I was going to post it.

Copy_of_me Reply

There is something about quick breads (& soda breads) that doesn't like me...regardless of that, I must add, this recipe sounds wonderful!

Img_2764 Reply

I hear you; I'm allergic to chocolate.

Chocolate_peppermint_truffle_cookies_032 Reply

What a wonderful-sounding bread!!! I can't wait to try it! Thanks so much for posting this, boulangere. And you studied under Peter Reinhart??? How absolutely wonderful! Love the photos too!! Thanks for sharing with us.

Img_2764 Reply

Oh, please do try it, and let us know how you like it!

Oldies_joemare_bd Reply

Making it tomorrow, have some buttermilk I need to use and this will be the perfect recipe to use it. Have to use frozen peas but thats ok I'm sure its fine. Can't wait to try!!!

Img_2764 Reply

I just recently edited the instructions to absolve everyone from the shame of frozen peas. They're fine. Just be sure to thaw them first ; ) Please let me know how you like it.

Oldies_joemare_bd Reply

Boulangere Oh, I will I can't wait to make it but more than that to taste it. The shame of frozen peas. I've been absolved!

Img_2764 Reply

OMG! It's only food. Make it, eat it, love it.

Lorigoldsby Reply

Oh Yumm! Reminds me of a bread I had at "Eatly" when we were in NYC this spring. Never thought I'd be able to make it. I kept thinking it was some sort of pizza but I think it was a quick bread like your recipe. Quick breads I can do, yeast just dies a drawn out futile death.

Img_2764 Reply

Wait just a minute here. This from the gorgeous woman with her spectacular tart on Martha's show? We need to have a serious yeast conversation. But not here. This bread is for easy fun.

Mrs Reply

Love this! And love that group picture!!!

Img_2764 Reply

My current class of students. We made this to serve with lunch today. They're all saying, "food52!" Thank you kindly, MrsL.

Sunflower_profile Reply

Boulangere - you may make a baker and candy maker out of me yet! This looks stupendous!

Img_2764 Reply

YAY! It's seriously as easy as it looks. And don't be a bit afraid to use frozen peas. That them first, though ; )

036 Reply

I am eating this right now. Before dinner. With honey. During dinner I will have it with chicken soup and salad (no honey). YUM! Won't be losing the Food52 10 this week!!!! SO delicious.

Img_2764 Reply

I love the food52 10. I've got 10 of my own. With honey - oooh, sounds wonderful! Thank you so much; flattered to be sharing hors d'oeuvres and dinner with you.

Sunflower_profile Reply

OMG - the Food52 10. Is THAT what happened to me??? We need a support group.

Img_2764 Reply

It's called food5210. Its mission is to support us in embracing our inner - and outer - 10.

Sausage2 Reply

The food52-10! Is that what seems to be settling in around my waist!? Haha! Well, we learn to love it! :) My husband is in danger of a food52-affiliate-10, I think!

Shamrock-medal Reply

Wow! Another lovely creation from the talented boulangere!

Img_2764 Reply

You are too sweet!

Shamrock-medal Reply

It's an act ;) Deep down I'm dreadful!

Img_2764 Reply

I suspect you have a lot of people fooled.

Shamrock-medal Reply

Is that your class? Did you get my message about Gibassier?

Img_2764 Reply

Yes, this is my current class of students. They're holding loaves of this that we made to serve with lunch today and shouting, "food52!" No, I've not made Gibassier, but it is very like many holiday breads we made in culinary school. Peter Reinhart (aka the bread god) was my breads instructor, and we made many specialty and holiday breads, but not Gibassier. The method is no different, nonetheless. If you try it, let me know what you think. If you need help, let me know.

Img_2764 Reply

I've done recipe testing for him, and I'm moderately good at channeling him, so let me know what we can work out. I mean you and I ; )

Sausage2 Reply

You learned bread baking from Peter Reinhart??!! So jealous!

Img_2764 Reply

He was the reason I chose the school I went to. Very generous, very smart man.

Img_2764 Reply

Thank you so much.

036 Reply

You win! I am going to have to make this tonight! How much trouble am I in if I use frozen peas? Organic baby ones of COURSE :-)

Img_2764 Reply

Lucky you! You get to proceed directly to Go, collect $200, and skip the blanching step!

Dscn3274 Reply

Wow! This is amazing!

Img_2764 Reply

Thank you so much!

Img_1958 Reply

This looks lovely!

Img_2764 Reply

Thank you, gingerroot!

Oldies_joemare_bd Reply

I love this recipe, must be delicious! What a gorgeous bread.

Img_2764 Reply

So easy, let me know if you try it.

Sausage2 Reply

Oh yummy! This sounds so tasty!

Img_2764 Reply

You are so kind!

Me Reply

Peas in the bread! How incredibly awesome! Plus, no kneading! Yay!

Img_2764 Reply

Nope, just flour your hands, pat into its shape, and there you go.

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