In the spirit of making more food from home in 2024, I had to recreate one of my favorite Panera orders, the bread bowl!
I paired it with my broccoli cheddar soup, but already thinking about a copycat panera Mac and cheese recipe 👀
1. In a large bowl combine water + yeast + sugar, stir to combine. Let it stand for 5-10 mins until foamy. Add the flour, salt and olive oil and mix until a dough mixture begins to come together.
2. Transfer to a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes. Add more flour if too sticky. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise on the counter for 1 hour.
3. Remove dough from bowl and cut into 3 equal pieces. Form round balls and cover with a towel to let rise once more for 30 mins. They will have doubled in size.
4. Preheat oven to 400 F. Coat the dough in the egg wash and bake for 20 mins, until golden brown. Allow to cool before cutting the center out to create a well in the bread.
Enjoy with your favorite soups, stews, mac & cheese and more!
