Cheese Bread Donut

The cheese bread donut is a rustic and tasty dish that can be customized based on the cheeses you prefer or have available. Here is a basic recipe to start from:

Ingredients

• 500 g of type 00 flour
• 300 ml of lukewarm water
• 10 g of fresh yeast or 3 g of dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 10 g of salt
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 150 g of grated cheese (for example, Parmesan, Pecorino, or a mix)
• 150 g of diced cheese (such as mozzarella, scamorza, emmentaler, or other stringy or semi-hard cheese)
• A pinch of black pepper (optional)
• Butter or additional oil for greasing the mold

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the lukewarm water. Let rest for a few minutes until small bubbles form on the surface.
2. Add the flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast water. Knead by hand or with a stand mixer until you have a smooth and elastic dough.
3. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in volume.
4. Once the dough has risen, incorporate the grated cheese and cheese cubes, adding a pinch of pepper if desired. Work the dough gently to evenly distribute the cheese.
5. Prepare a donut mold (or a bundt pan) by greasing it with butter or oil so that the dough doesn’t stick during cooking.
6. Transfer the dough into the mold and shape it into a donut.
7. Let the dough rise again in the mold for about 30-45 minutes.
8. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
9. Bake the donut for about 30-40 minutes, or until it is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
10. Unmold the donut and let it cool on a rack before serving.

Trivia

The cheese bread donut is a versatile dish perfect for a picnic or as a snack at a party. The choice of cheeses can vary based on tastes and local traditions, and sometimes other ingredients like aromatic herbs, sun-dried tomatoes, or olives are added to give more flavor and character to the dish. In some Italian variations, you might find the use of typical local cheeses that give a unique taste to the preparation.