Spinach Onion Braid
This lovely Spinach and Onion Braid started with pizza dough and ended with tender bread braided around a cheesy spinach filling!
This Spinach Bread is filled with 3 kinds of cheese, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan, along with spinach, onions, and a touch of oregano! Every bite is delicious!!
Spinach Onion Braid
I have a confession to make. I’m not a huge fan of onions in bread. Those everything bagels? Blech. Pissaladiere? Eh, not a favorite. So when this month’s Twelve Loaves theme was chosen, I was unsure how to work onions into a bread.
This Spinach Onion Braid was born when I decided to adapt my favorite stuffed shells filling and pop it into a loaf. And it worked! Plus the flavor combination was magnificent. It makes a huge loaf and we polished off half in one meal…then Bill asked if he could have some for breakfast. How about that!
How to Make a Braided Bread
The base for this braid is made from homemade pizza dough. A very smooth, and stretchy dough. It took me a good while to roll it out into a 10 x 18 rectangle.
It’s slightly salty, which works perfectly with the filling composed of spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, and a bit of oregano. Dipping slices of this stuffed bread recipe into marinara sauce would be fabulous…well, maybe not for breakfast! The braiding process was quite simple. It’s just crossing alternating strips of the dough over the filling. No actual plaiting involved.
I spread the filling down the center of the dough, leaving at least 3 inches of dough on each side. I also left a generous inch on both short ends to fold up and over the filling before starting the braiding process. Feel free to trim the ends however you’d like to get rid of excess dough. Check out my Raspberry Danish Braid for a photo that might help you visualize the process.
More Bread Recipes You’ll Love:
- Chocolate Hazelnut Bread from Saving Room for Dessert
- Spinach Torta Rustica
- The Best Cinnamon Rolls
- Homemade Pita Bread
- Braided Easter Bread
- More Bread Recipes
Spinach Onion Braid Recipe
A lovely yeast bread braided around a delicious spinach and onion filling!
Ingredients
Dough::
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 package instant yeast (I use Red Star Premium Yeast)
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1 cup cake flour
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt (if using table salt use less)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Filling::
- 10-ounce box frozen, chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
- 1/2 onion, diced small
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup ricotta
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 egg
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Egg wash::
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with dough hook, combine water, sugar, and yeast.
- Add the 2 tablespoons of oil, then the flours and salt. Knead dough on low speed 10 minutes (may also knead by hand).
- Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning dough to coat surface. Cover dough with plastic wrap. Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled, about 2 hours.
- Make filling. Saute onion in 1 tablespoon olive oil till soft. Let cool.
- Mix spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, oregano and salt till thoroughly mixed.
- Roll dough into an 18 x 10-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Spread the filling down the center of the dough (going the long way) leaving 3+ inches of dough on each side of the filling and an inch of space on each end.
- Fold up the short edges over the filling. Cut away any excess dough. Cut an equal number of ¾ inch wide strips in the dough on each side of the filling, then alternating, fold strips up and over filling.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let rise another hour in a warm place. Preheat oven to 350º
- Whisk together egg and water and brush over loaf. Bake for 30-40 minutes till crust is golden brown. Cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 274Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 823mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 11g
58 Comments on “Spinach Onion Braid”
Hi Lizzy, I just stopped over from Lora’s blog …although not commenting on hers; since I personally had her amazing and delicious caramelized onion rolls with goat cheese…and here is your superb spinach-onion bread that I wish I could have a piece also! (printing recipe to want to make it) Sorry for neglecting to comment on all of your posts; but I do love each and everything you make, my dear friend! You never cease to inspire me! xoxo
Lizzie
For someone who isn’t thrilled with onions in breads, you really outdid yourself! This is a wonderful loaf that could easily be the star of any meal of the day. Gorgeous!
Wait, Bill asked for something stuffed with spinach for breakfast? And you always give him such a hard time for being a picky eater! I’m beginning to think that perhaps Bill has been maligned unduly. 🙂
That is one fabulous loaf, Liz, and I could eat a slice for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Even with marinara sauce in the morning.
That is some talent right there! It looks like something you would order online or from one of those fru-fru magazines and pay handsomely for! It also sounds delicious! I heart onions in everything (just not really raw), so this bread is right up my alley!
What an incredible bread! Your braid is perfect (as always!) and I love the filling!
It’s funny you don’t like onions in breads and then came up with fabulous bread idea! Super for our Onions May challenge, Lizzy. Thank you for being a part of our group!
I’m not a huge fan of onions anyway but if they’re caramelized then I like them. This loaf you’ve created is stunning. I really need to try this method. I’ve seen you post similar breads before and each time I’m in awe. Just beautiful and I’m sure tasty!
I’ve had spinach breads before but yours looks and sounds much better.
oh i could eat this all by itself and leave room for nothing or no one else:))) I love the spinach and onion filling. You are the bomb when it comes to bread my friend
Perfect for breakfast.
What an amazing idea. An homemade pizza dough to make a sort of Calzone, as we call them here in Italy, with spinach and onions. I really like it.
Oh Liz, you are a master at braiding bread. It’s so gorgeous and looks scrumptious.
Lizzy-Your bread is beautiful. Know that I know I don’t have to fuss with plaiting, I might attempt this. And it sounds delish.
Thanks SO much, Mary!!!
I have to admit I am not huge fan of onions.. at all.. 🙂 but this bread looks really good
This is the prettiest stuff bread I have ever seen. You need to head out to the East coast and show all the Italian delis how to get it done.
This would be gobbled up in no time here! Looks great:@)
Brilliance, Liz! And as pizza dough as a base I may just get brave enough to try my hand at braiding =)
Unlike you I love onion in bread and generally I love stuffed breads, so this one is exactly what i would pick up to munch!
Hey Lizzy, I have been out of the blogging world–I will have to get caught up on all your yummy dishes. This looks amazing! I have a brunch to attend this week. I could be bringing this. Miss you friend!!
I love this Lizzy look beautiful really gorgeous!
xo