A beautiful round, golden-brown loaf, speckled with melted gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, and chunks of earthy mushrooms. Creamy melted cheese glistens on the crust, highlighting the rich, darkened onions and hearty mushrooms peeking out, making it especially Instagram-worthy.

Rustic Cremini Mushroom and Gruyere Bread

Name: Rustic Cremini Mushroom and Gruyere Bread
Prep time: 120 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 155 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: Cremini mushrooms, 2 cups finely chopped; large onion, 1 thinly sliced; Gruyere cheese, 1 cup coarsely grated; fresh thyme leaves, 2 teaspoons no prep; all-purpose flour, 2 cups no prep; quick-rising yeast, 1 packet no prep; salt, 1 teaspoon no prep; olive oil, 1 tablespoon no prep; unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon no prep; warm water, 1 cup no prep; Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling no prep

Category Brunch

Prep 120 minutes

Cook 35 minutes

Style French

Technique Baking

Diet Friendly Vegetarian

Daily Recipe: December 20, 2023

Taking inspiration from the French simplicity and elegance, we are creating a savory, rustic bread highlighting earthy Cremini mushrooms. This bread is speckled with caramelized onions and gruyere cheese that melts beautifully, enhancing the flavor of the mushrooms and bread alike.

Ingredients (for 4)

Cremini mushrooms - 2 cups - finely chopped
Large onion - 1 - thinly sliced
Gruyere cheese - 1 cup - coarsely grated
Fresh thyme leaves - 2 teaspoons - no prep
All-purpose flour - 2 cups - no prep
Quick-rising yeast - 1 packet - no prep
Salt - 1 teaspoon - no prep
Olive oil - 1 tablespoon - no prep
Unsalted butter - 1 tablespoon - no prep
Warm water - 1 cup - no prep
Extra virgin olive oil - for drizzling - no prep

Preparation

Step 1 - 🧅🍄🔥

Caramelize the onions in butter on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 25 minutes until golden brown. Add the chopped mushrooms and thyme in the last 5 minutes and cook until the mushrooms release their moisture.
Step 2 - 🍚🍶💦👩‍🍳

Combine flour, yeast, and salt in a bowl. Add warm water and olive oil, mixing until the dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth, about 10 minutes.
Step 3 - 🍞⏲️🌡️

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about one hour, or until it doubles in size.
Step 4 - 👊🧀🍞

Punch down the risen dough, knead in the caramelized onion-mushroom mixture and grated gruyere cheese, then shape it into a round loaf.
Step 5 - ⏲️🍞👶

Place the loaf on a baking paper-lined tray, cover it with a kitchen towel and let it rise again for another hour.
Step 6 - 🔪🍞🌡️

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C), make shallow slashes on the top of the loaf using a sharp knife, and lightly drizzle it with some extra virgin olive oil.
Step 7 - 🍞🔥⏲️

Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes until golden brown, and it sounds hollow when tapped underneath.
Step 8 - ⏲️🍞🔪

Allow the bread to cool before slicing.

Additional

This can serve as a perfect brunch dish or an accompaniment for a cozy dinner soup. You can also add other herbs like rosemary or sage to enhance the flavor. This rustic bread looks so compelling; even kids would love to tear it apart and enjoy!