Colorful Vegetable Bread

Here’s a delightful recipe for Colorful Vegetable Bread! This bread is not only visually striking, thanks to the vibrant colors of the vegetables, but it also offers a tasty and nutritious addition to your meal. With a medley of colorful vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, and spinach, this bread is sure to be a hit.

Ingredients:

For the Bread Dough:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water (110°F/45°C)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus extra for greasing)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

For the Vegetable Mixture:

• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup carrots, grated or finely chopped
• 1/2 cup spinach, chopped (or kale)
• 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (for sautéing)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Vegetable Mixture:

• In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the chopped onion, bell peppers, grated carrots, and spinach (or kale). Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are softened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and let the vegetable mixture cool to room temperature.

2. Make the Dough:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy (this activates the yeast).
• Add the flour, salt, and garlic powder (if using) to the yeast mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until a dough forms.
• Add the 2 tablespoons of olive oil and knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour, a tablespoon at a time.
• Once the dough is ready, cover it with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until it doubles in size.

3. Incorporate the Vegetables:

• Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release any air bubbles.
• Add the sautéed vegetable mixture into the dough and gently knead it into the dough until the vegetables are evenly distributed.
• You may need to add a little more flour if the dough becomes too soft due to the moisture from the vegetables.

4. Shape and Second Rise:

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