This rustic pesto bread is the kind of recipe that makes people think you’ve gone to far more effort than you actually have. A crusty loaf, a jar of pesto and a bit of butter and parmesan are all it takes to create a warm, pull-apart centrepiece that smells incredible and disappears even faster.
As it bakes, the pesto and parmesan melt into the bread, the edges turn golden and crisp, and the middle stays soft, buttery and packed with flavour. It’s low-effort, high-reward cooking at its best – the sort of thing you throw together when people are coming over and you want something generous, comforting and impossible to resist.
Store-bought pesto is fine to use, but our Italian-style homemade basil pesto is really something else! And it only takes 15 minutes to make.
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Rustic Pull-Apart Pesto Bread
Recipe by Food and Vine
Serve warm and watch it disappear!
6
servings5
minutes30
minutesIngredients
1 1 crusty cob loaf or pane di casa
3/4 cup 3/4 cup quality basil pesto (or flavour of choice)
60 g 2 fl oz butter, melted
1/2 cup 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan
Method
- Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Place bread on a board. Using a bread knife, make deep crisscross cuts across the top of the loaf, being careful not to cut too far down the sides or all the way through to the base.
- Combine pesto and melted butter in a bowl. Spoon the pesto mixture into all the cuts, gently opening the bread as you go so it really gets down deep. Don’t be shy – this is where all the flavour will be. Sprinkle parmesan over the pesto-filled cuts. Wrap loaf loosely in foil.
- Bake bread for 15 minutes, then unwrap and bake for a further 10–15 minutes or until the edges are crisp and golden. Serve warm so everyone can pull pieces apart.
Notes
- If you like, you can add handful of chopped nuts (pine nuts or cashews) to the pesto mixture for extra texture.
- Don’t skimp on the pesto – it’s the point of the loaf! Feel free to use a quality store-bought pesto, if you’re in a rush. We also have the most delicious homemade basil pesto recipe that only takes 15 minutes to make!
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Total number of serves: 6
- Calories: 224kcal
- Fat: 21.7g
- Saturated Fat: 8.5g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
- Sodium: 488mg
- Carbohydrates: 2.8g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Sugar: 1.1g
- Protein: 4.6g
- Calcium: 151mg
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