Pull-Apart Masala Bread

Pull apart bread is everywhere on Facebook videos. Pull apart cheesy garlic bread is something that I had seen and found very interesting. This recipe is definitely inspired from those videos. You all know I enjoy baking, and baking crusty bread is super fun and easy. Incorporating my love for Mumbai street food in the recipe, I tried my hands on Pull-Apart Masala Pav.

Masala Pav, makes me nostalgic... an oversized cast iron griddle to cook veggies and super soft pav bread lathered with butter is stuffed with veggies and spices. Masala Pav is a perfect food that is delicious and filling specially for Mumbai commuters and young college students.

My husband has been following and watching cricket matches on TV, and I thought this is an amazing game recipe (appetizer or dinner) where we just sit back and enjoy Virat Kohli's new captainship in the cricket match. :) You can make this while you watch your favorite game or a movie.

Recipe for Crusty Bread (Click here to check my recipe from before)

Ingredients

1+1/4 cup water

2 tbsp. sugar
1 pack yeast
3 cups all purpose flour/maida
Extra flour for kneading the dough
1 tsp. Salt

Start with 1 1/4 cup warm water (100F) in a large bowl. Add 1 packet Yeast, (2 1/4 tsp.) and 2 tbsp. sugar. Mix and let the mixture rest for 5 minutes.
1 tsp. salt and 3 cups all-purpose flour.
Mix together to make a sticky dough.
Lightly dust your clean counter. Empty the dough and knead it for 8-10 minutes. This is the most important stage to develop gluten, and make the dough elastic. It is okay to use around 1/4 cup flour while kneading (if needed).
Keep the dough in a greased large bowl. Cover and let it rest for an hour.
Knead the dough again for 7-8 minutes.
Make a dough ball and leave it aside. You could use a baking tray or a pizza stone to bake the bread. If using baking tray, grease and dust the tray and place the log of dough in it. Dust it well on the top. Cover with a dry napkin or cloth and let it rise for 45 minutes. If baking on a pizza stone, preheat the pizza stone too.I used cast iron skillet to bake crusty bread. So I left the dough ball in it to proof.
Place a big metal pan in the oven under the baking pan.
Preheat oven to 450F
Place the cast iron skillet in the oven.
Pour 4 cups of hot water into the metal pan that was placed under the baking shelf. be careful as the metal pan is hot and might create bubbling and steam.
Immediately close the oven door.
Bake the bread for 40 to 50 minutes or till you get a beautiful even color and crust. Baking time may vary depending on the amount of dough and shape of the bread.
Remove bread on a wire rack and let it cool.

To make Masala stuffing: Check my Masala Pav Recipe

2 Tbsp. butter

1 cup chopped onions

1 cup chopped bell pepper

1 cup green peas

1 cup chopped tomatoes

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. minced garlic

2 tbsp. pav bhaji masala

2 tbsp. lime/lemon juice

Grated cheese of your choice

To garnish:

2-3 tbsp. chopped onions

2 tbsp chopped cilantro

Heat butter in a pan.
Saute onions till soft. Add bell pepper and green peas and saute for 3-4 minutes.
Add chopped tomatoes and minced garlic.
Cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add salt and pav bhaji masala. Mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Turn off the heat and add lime juice. Let the veggie mixture cool.

To assemble pull -apart bread:

Make horizontal and vertical cuts into the bread leaving the base intact.
Stuff the cuts (in between the squares) with veggie mixture and grated cheese.
Add grated cheese on the top of the bread loaf too.
Bake in 350F preheated over for 15 minutes.
As it comes out of the oven, garnish with chopped onions and cilantro.
Serve and enjoy this pull-apart bread!

Here is step-by-step pictorial recipe:

Make the bread dough and leave it in a greased pan for an hour to proof.

A well risen bread dough.

Baked bread dough. Beautiful color and crusty texture.
Let the bread cool well.

Heat butter in a pan.
Saute onions till soft. Add bell pepper and green peas and saute for 3-4 minutes.
Add chopped tomatoes and minced garlic.
Cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add salt and pav bhaji masala. Mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Turn off the heat and add lime juice. Let the veggie masala cool.