Bread Machine Recipe: Rustic Italian Bread with Bisquick

This is an Italian Bread Recipe for your breadmaker. It uses Bisquick Baking mix to make it quick and easy.

The impetus for this recipe was the loaf of Pugliesse bread I picked up on sale in the Kroger Deli-bakery last week. Pugliesse bread is from Puglia (Apulia in English) the region of Italy located in the boot heel. It has an unusual texture and taste, and it capitavated me from the first bite.

Rustic Pugliesse bread and other Italian breads are considered very good choices for toasting and for sandwiches. I began to imagine all kinds of combinations and uses for it. I immediately made homemade chicken salad and homemade pimento cheese, but oddly, the bread did not last long enough! (You can click those links for the recipes.)

If you follow any of my online articles, you already know that I am always looking for the quick and easy way to do anything, whether cooking, crafts, or income opportunities. I found an Italian bread recipe and reformulated it to use Bisquick in the bread machine. What I got was a little different than the Pufgliesse bread I was aiming for, which I knew it would be.

This is because traditional Pugliesse bread uses biga, or what we would call a starter. This is just not quick and easy enough for me! You may have used a starter if you have ever done one of those friendship breads or Amish breads where someone gives you a big blob of dough in a bag. It seems like it takes over your kitchen and your life! However, everyone should try one once.

I just used regular yeast in my Rustic Italian Bread recipe. What I ended up with was not exactly as coursely textured as the Pugliesse bread I bought at Kroger. It does have a more open, rustic, and crusty feel to it than my traditional bread from the bread machine. The light dusting of salt and garlic powder gives it an Italian flavor and aroma. It slices better than my other bread, too. This makes it much more conducive to making all manner of sandwices, hot and cold. Because there is no butter or milk needed, it is more economical and less fattening than the other bread.

Ingredients:

Bisquick: 4 cups (You can use any baking mix.)

Water: 1 1/4 cups

Canola Oil: 3 Tablespoons

Yeast: 2 Teaspoons

Garlic Powder

Salt

Directions:

Pour oil into the breadmaker pan and swirl around.

In a microwaveable coffee mug, microwave the water for 1 minute.

Add to the pan, followed by the Bisquick. Be sure you that you loosely measure the Bisquick; don't pack it down tightly.

Make a little well in the top of the Bisquick and add the yeast.

Use the settings for medium crust color and 2 lb. size on your bread machine. During the last hour of the baking, sprinkle with garlic powder and salt. I usually turn the bread machine off around 15-20 minutes before the time is up. You need to keep an eye on it during the last half hour to decide when you want to turn it off, according to your particular bread machine.

My traditional Bread Machine recipe: