Italian Appetizer Bread

  

Italian snack bread loaded with salami, cheese, and olives is an ideal warm appetizer for a gathering.

 

Ingredients

1 tablespoon Butter, melted

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh garlic

1 1-pound loaf frozen bread dough, thawed

1/4 pound thinly sliced deli Genoa salami

6 (1-ounce) Provolone Cheese, cut into strips

1/4 cup sliced stuffed green olives

2 green onions, sliced

1 large Egg, beaten

1 teaspoon water

Poppy seed

 

Combine the butter and garlic in a bowl. On a lightly floured board, roll out the bread dough into a 12-inch square. Put on a lightly oiled baking sheet and spread with butter mixture.

Arrange salami, cheese, olives, & onions in a 3-inch strip in the center of the dough, allowing 4 1/2 inches of dough on each side for the filling. Make twelve 3-inch-long strips, one inch apart, down both edges of the filling. Fold strips over the filling at an angle, rotating sides, to create a braided look. Crimp the dough at the bottom and top to secure.

Cover and allow to rise in a warm area for thirty to forty-five minutes, until it has about doubled in size. In a dish, combine the egg and water; brush it over the braid. Sprinkle with poppy seeds if preferred. Preheat oven to 350°F.

Cook 25–35 minutes, till golden brown. Retrieve from baking sheet and let cool for 10 minutes. Divide into slices.