Pesto Babka | Eggless Bread Recipes

I've been posting Bread recipes back to back..apologies.It is just that I'm on a bread baking spree and I cannot wait to share with you guys whenever I bake something and it comes out super delicious.

I have made Pesto rolls before and posted it here years back.I wonder why I don't make it more often.Pesto is a flavor bomb I tell you!Every time I make Cinnamon rolls and roll it to cut into small even rolls,I am always tempted to try this Babka method of cutting the roll into half and then shaping it.It never happened though and I always kept telling to myself,next time for sure!

Today was the day.I got hold of some freshest Basil leaves harvested from a friend's balcony garden.Combined that with some leaves in my garden as well and made a super simple pesto.No fancy ingredients but absolutely no compromise on the taste,how about that.Finished my lunch hurriedly and went about making it.

Making the dough takes hardly 5 minutes as I knead my dough in the food processor.While the dough was proving,made the pesto.By tea time we had warm pesto Babka ready :)

Pesto Babka

Ingredients

Maida/Flour - 1 1/2 cups

Milk powder - 1 tbsp(optional)

Sugar - 1 tbsp

Salt - 1 tsp

Yeast - 1 tsp

Italian seasoning - 1 tsp

Warm milk - 1/2 cup (plus 1 or 2 tbsp)

Butter - 1 1/2 tbsp (or oil)

For the filling

Pesto - 1/4 cup

Shredded Mozzarella - 1/4 cup

Method

Into the bowl of your food processor bowl-add flour,milk powder,sugar,salt and yeast and seasoning.Pulse for 10 seconds.

Add the milk through the spout and pulse simultaneously till a dough is formed.

Mix in the butter and pulse for 30 -45 seconds.

OR

Into a bowl add all the dry ingredients and mix well.Mix the milk and knead to a smooth dough(7-10 minutes).Mix in butter and knead again for 2-3 minutes.

Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and let it double(about 1 hour).

Meanwhile make the Pesto.I made a super simple version today with just a handful of basil leaves,few cashewnuts,2 cloves of garlic,pepper,salt and olive oil.Grind everything together to a smooth paste.

Once the dough is double,punch it down and shape into a rough rectangle.

Roll it thin and maintain the shape of a rectangle.

Brush some olive oil and then apply an even layer of pesto all over.

Top with some shredded mozzarella and roll into a tight roll.

Keeping an inch intact,run a knife right in the middle of the roll cutting it into two.

Now make a small braid by overlapping one piece over the other and shape into a round(or any shape of your choice)

Place on a lined baking tray,cover with a cling wrap and let it double for 20-35 minutes.

Preheat oven to 180C.

Once the Babka is doubled,remove the cling wrap,brush some olive oil on top generously and bake it for 25-30 minutes or until it turns golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.

Immediately brush some melted butter on top and cover loosely with a kitchen towel.

Serve warm :)

Step by Step Tutorial

Into the bowl of your food processor bowl-add flour,milk powder,sugar,salt and yeast and seasoning.Pulse for 10 seconds.

Add the milk through the spout and pulse simultaneously till a dough is formed.

Mix in the butter and pulse for 30 -45 seconds.

OR

Into a bowl add all the dry ingredients and mix well.Mix the milk and knead to a smooth dough(7-10 minutes).Mix in butter and knead again for 2-3 minutes.

Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and let it double(about 1 hour).

Meanwhile make the Pesto.I made a super simple version today with just a handful of basil leaves,few cashewnuts,2 cloves of garlic,pepper,salt and olive oil.Grind everything together to a smooth paste.You can grind it coarse too if that's your preference.

Once the dough is double,punch it down and 

shape into a rough rectangle.

Roll it thin and maintain the shape of a rectangle.

Brush some olive oil and then 

apply an even layer of pesto all over.

Top with some shredded mozzarella 

and roll into a tight roll.

Keeping an inch intact,run a knife right in the middle of the roll cutting it into two.

Now make a small braid by overlapping one piece over the other and shape into a round(or any shape of your choice)

Place on a lined baking tray,

cover with a cling wrap and let it double for 20-35 minutes.

Preheat oven to 180C.

Once the Babka is doubled,remove the cling wrap,brush some olive oil on top generously and bake it for 25-30 minutes or until it turns golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.

Immediately brush some melted butter on top and cover loosely with a kitchen towel.

Serve warm :)