Dipping Bread
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This started out as a copycat recipe for Macaroni Grill’s bread loaves that they bring to your table before your meal. You know – while you wait for your ridiculously huge meal they give you some ridiculously delicious bread to munch on. Before you know it you and your husband have eaten your way through 2 loaves and FORTHELOVEOFPASTA you try to stop yourself from ripping off one more piece and dipping it in that shallow dish of delicious olive oil.
That bread.
Through the years I have added a few spices here and there but feel free to keep it simple or season it up with whatever would go well with your meal.
This is a basic bread recipe that would be difficult to mess up. If you are new to bread-baking this is a great recipe to start with. If you are a seasoned baker you will like the simplicity of throwing this recipe together for your next meal. It makes 4 small loaves – perfect little portions. The recipe also doubles easily.
We enjoy this bread dipped in plain extra virgin olive oil but we also like to change things up a bit sometimes. Come back later this week and I’ll share the spiced up olive oil recipe too! 🙂
Dipping Bread Recipe
PrintYield: 2 hours, 16 minutes
Prep Time:2 hours
Cook Time:12-16 minutes
Total Time:4 small loaves
Copycat restraunt bread for tearing and dipping in olive oil
Ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast (or substitute one packet)
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 Cup warm water (105°-115°F)
- 2 ½ Cups flour, separated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons fresh rosemary + extra for sprinkling
- 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
- Sea salt for sprinkling on top
Directions:
- Combine yeast, sugar, and water in a large bowl and allow mixture to become bubbly (5-10 minutes).
- Add 2 cups of flour, salt, and whatever seasonings you are using. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes by hand adding additional flour as necessary.
- Place dough ball into an oiled bowl and cover with a towel. Let dough rise until doubled, about an hour.
- Punch dough down and divide into 4 sections. Let dough rest for 5 minutes.
- Shape dough into oblong loaves and place on greased baking sheet. Brush with melted butter and seasonings. Let rise for 25 minutes.
- Just before baking sprinkle with sea salt. Bake at 400°F for 12-16 minutes until golden.
Notes:
- You can substitute 1 Tablespoon dried rosemary or 1 Tablespoon dried Italian seasoning.
- You can omit the rosemary/seasonings altogether. However, don’t omit the salt.
Hi there! I’m Katrina, a wife and a mom in a house full of boys who love to eat. This is my girly space where I make pretty things. 
I was looking for a recipe like this last night to go with our steak and veggies, bookmarking!! It looks and sounds incredible!
Oh I hope you DO make it – so simple to make in the afternoon and have in time for dinner 🙂
Katrina this bread looks fantastic!! Looks like something I would get a restaurant, delicious! 🙂
Yum!! I'm going to try out this recipe sometime this week. Looks absolutely delicious 🙂
Awesome!
Yummo! I can't resist bread either and will definitely be trying this soon!
Pam @ From Apples To Zucchini
I know what you mean! Then you have to ask for a box immediately because you cannot finish your meal!! What we really should be doing is just order a drink and eat the bread 🙂
Uhhhhh…I am totally hypnotized by the bread…I must have the bread….
Seriously though, this looks gorgeous. Who can resist the call of fresh made bread?!?!
I know this bread of which you speak! It's managed to leave me with loads of takeaway boxes because I always stuff my face with this before my food comes! Now, however, I can rock it at home. Or rather, ask my friend Norma to make it for me because me + baking = disaster 🙂 Buzzed!
Fantastic! I love good bread with a dipping sauce. You really hit a home run with this one!
I could eat this right now for breakfast! Looks delicious.
Mmm, any bread that includes rosemary is okay in my book! This looks awesome!
I always eat waaay to much of this bread every time we go out. Now I have a recipe to make it at home. This might be trouble.
Wow this looks incredible. It reminds me of bread served at local restaurants around where I live. I cannot wait to make this!
This looks so good! This is very similar to the recipe I use for pizza dough, bread and pretty much everything…I know it can't fail. I'm definately going to give this a try! 🙂
Oh my yumminess!!! I suddenly have a taste for bread… dipped in olive oil! I love that combo and I always load up on it when I go to those restaurants. I end up with a doggie bag because I fill up on the bread. 🙂
I stumbled across this recipe this afternoon and headed into the kitchen to make it immediately. I subbed half whole wheat flour and used Italian seasoning. The small loaves were perfect!
I've never understood why restaurants make their bread SO good. I guess in a way it's good for us because we end up taking half the food home for the next day. I love your version too. I'll be giving this a try for sure.Many thanks for passing it along.
Are you kidding me?! I just posted it this mornng – that is awesome!!! Thanks for letting me know! Feel free to post a pic to my facebook page or email it to me. I have an album where I feature recipes that my readers have made.
I love easy bread recipes! And I love delicious bread to dip into sauces. I do get annoyed when restaurants bring out food before the meals. I always eat too much and never have room for my meal. I have just plan for it now. Eat bread for dinner and take home the "real' meal for the next day. I never understood the people who request NOT to have it on the table. It is way too good to pass up.
Due to food poisoning, I haven't had or wanted food in the last 48hrs…but this changes everything! Your bread and olive oil are the first thing I want 🙂
Great I didn't post any pictures this time, but I will definitely be making it again for my blog (with links galore to you of course!). I'll send you a photo when I make it again.
What are you doing to me???? This is soooo sooo good Katrina! I love dipping bread especially your recipe..this is must try asap:))) Look fantastic!!!
This bread looks definitely dippable! I've got some new pistachio dukkah I'm dying to try and this bread looks perfect for it.
Katrina this looks fantastic!!!!! i'll take two! <3
I would love to make a sandwich out of this bread AND THEN dip it in herby olive oil. Another great recipe Katrina!
Nice! I always love trying out new recipes for bread, and this one sounds yummy & looks really nice too… I like the way you've cut the loaves. Nice one, Katrina!
I could eat this entire loaf! Looks so chewy and delicious!
Love this bread! Don't live near a Macaroni Grill anymore, so I never get it! Thanks for the recipe!
I haven't been to Macaroni Grill in forever but I do remember loving the bread. This looks so delicious!
So I know I already commented once but… I made this bread, and WOW. It was so good. Now, I'm going to hold you to your promise to post the oil recipe too! Because I know that would make it even better! But I'm not very good with breads, active dry yeast scares me, I never quite get it right. But this worked. So THANK YOU. My husband and I appreciate it! 🙂
I am totally addicted to that bread! I go to Macaroni Grill for the bread and Penne Rustica. Be still my heart! Thanks for sharing and I'm looking forward to your olive oil dip!
that looks delightful, I love their bread too
Hi Katrina…saw your dipping bread on foodgawker and can't resist hopping in. I have a whole load of herbs recently given to me by a friend who had just came back from a visit to Italy so I am really excited to use them and this bread is a good place to start:D Thanks for sharing!
This bread will taste fantastic with my favorite Greek salad, Katrina! (Lots of dipping opportunities,lol) thanks for sharing, enjoy the week!
No question, this is perfect dipping bread! I have trouble at places like Macaroni Grill and Bertucci's, I can't eat the bread any longer and it is pure torture to look at it and smell it. I won't be making this recipe…but not because I don't think it's wonderful!!! Buzzed.
Easy and quick to make. It looks very tasty! Thanks!!
You had me at bread! Just call me Rachel the carboholic. I too have a seriously hard time resisting bread when it's offered prior to meals at restaurants. Do you have a Not Your Average Joes near you? Oh heaven their bread is insane. I've got to try this recipe in the very near future… maybe even as a lunch treat 🙂
I love baking yeast breads and I love what you've done with a "basic" recipe. I'm inspired!
You'll love it – sooo easy!
lol! It is quite irresistable I must say. 😉 Thanks Sandra
ooh yum! I hope you are recovered from your vertigo 🙁
It has never made it past the dinner table in our house…but mmm lunch the next day?? Now you have me thinking!
AWESOME that you tried it!! And yes the spiced up oil is coming 😉 I promise! I'm SO happy you tried the bread. It is very simple (as far as bread recipes go). Yay!!!
Ooooh Penne Rustica. Now I'm hungry.
Thanks! You know Jennifurla I can *never* comment on your blog – but I am there! Google issues I guess keep preventing me 🙁 Yummm Edamame and Avocado spread!! Have you considered changing your setting to allow Name/URL comments? Because then I think Blogger will let me in.
I'm SO happy you stopped by! 😉 Oh fresh herbs in this is ahhh-mazing!
Carolyn I feel your pain. 🙁
Oh no! Bread is definitely my weakness!
Carbaholic? You? 😉 Me too
Pretty and rustic….Just right for dipping in balsamic+olive oil or even brilliant for a panini….bookmarked this – will have to try it at some point.
beautiful space -will be back soon.
Yeyyy Katrina- Congrats on top 9!!!!
This is the type of bread my family devours! Love it!!
I love bread, but I have to admit that my favorite part about it is dipping it into various sauces 🙂 This is definitely the perfect vehicle for that!
Thanks Katrina for delicious recipe. Can we add milk instant of water for more nutritional value.
I could definitely have this bread for a whole meal! It's an addiction =)
"For the love of pasta"….thanks for this recipe. Complimentary bread and chips (at Mexican restaurants) should be banned. But, I love this recipe and will make it for home!
Hello Katrina,
Congrats on making it to the Top 9!I absolutely loved the look and feel of your Dipping Bread! I'm hosting the 2nd round of 'Let's Bread Bread Together' and just thought of giving you a nudge:) please do come over sometime and take a look and even link-up your lovely recipe if u you wish to!
Cheers,
Wit,wok&wisdom
Congrats on the top 9! This bread looks delicious!
Yes, please! I'll have a loaf of this…and then a giant pasta meal. 🙂 Looks absolutely delicious!
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Oh my goodness this bread looks amazing!!! I wouldn't mind having some of it for breakfast. YUM! 🙂
I just made a bread just like it and it was perfect for dipping! And yeah, rosemary is always a win 😀
If there is one thing that I absolutely love it is home made bread dipped in olive oil! This recipe sounds very simple and it looks fantastic. Can't wait to read about the spiced up dipping sauce. Congrats on Top 9 today, it is well deserved.
I never could resist bread. 😉 This makes such a tasty nibble…..though it would be tough to save room for the meal….ehehehe.
I LOVE this bread too! It is just so darn tasty! I'll definitely try this one out!
I don't see why not?! I've never done it but I don't think it would really change anything. Let me know if you try out that switch 😉
OMG yes chips too! What is it about restaurant chips and salsa?! I can eat my weight in that stuff!
The bread looks so flaky and nice and that dipping sauce is making me drool!
Congrats on making Top 9!
Yes! Why do they keep offering us that delicious, carb loaded bread before every meal?!? I just can't say no as i dig into the warm, yeasty bread, slather it in butter and a little salt and pepper or olive oil. Ymmm ymm ymmm. Thanks for making this simple looking recipe for this yeast challenged cook. 🙂
Oh dude…. I miss Macaroni Grill, haven't eaten at one in several years but I do remember the fantastic bread. Thank for sharing this wonderful recipe!
Thank goodness I don't live near a Macaroni Grill but I have had their insanely good bread. Thanks for the recipe, awesome pictures and Congrats on making Top 9!
I think this might be my new bread recipe to try. I love how easy it is – and how it is baked on a cookie sheet! Though, we're like you, we'll probably eat it in a day!
I am new to bread making so this is on my list to try. The pics are great I want a big hunk of this bread to dip in that oil. mmmmmm
This looks amazing! I may have to make some tomorrow! Thanks for sharing!
I love that dipping bread and bet it would be even more delicious coming out of your own kitchen. Awesome recipe 🙂 and…fortheloveofpasta. I love it! Seriously laughed out loud. Thank you!
Just made this for our lunch…served with feta, cucumbers and fried banana peppers from the garden. Apparently this is to be added to my recipe rotation and served more often as advised by my husband and sister.
I already make the rest of our bread and buns and find that yeast really doesn't need to be proofed. I add it to the flour (fleishmann) and always get good results. I stopped proofing yeast 30 years ago when I was able to obtain bakers yeast that looked like a pound of butter.
Just tried this lovely sounding bread…I must have done something very wrong…I followed the recipe to the letter..noticed there was no shortening or butter in the 'batter' but went ahead…my result was rather disappointing…what have I done wrong? please help…
LindaRose
Oh LindaRose- wow. I'm so sorry. I make this bread often for my family just as stated. And many of my readers have now made it with success. I wonder if your water was too hot and it killed the yeast? I agree that it is an unusual recipe and I like that it is simple. Having not seen your results I would suggest trying again with warm water and also giving it plenty of time to rise and rest. I'm curious to know your results.
I don't have a Macaroni Grill near me, but I don't really need one now that I have this recipe. I love this post!
I have never made bread before, but this is definitely a challange i am willing to take! this recipe looks too good to pass up!
Thank you. Made this with fresh basil as a seasoning and used it for tomato and mozzarella sandwiches. It was fantastic.
Wowza!!!! I just baked this, and it was absolutely DELICIOUS!!! I got distracted and popped it straight into the oven without the second rise or the sea salt, and it was still incredible! This was my first real attempt at baking bread and I'm beyond pleased with the results! Thank you so much for sharing this!
I bookmarked this a couple of days ago, sure I would find the right time for it – and I was right, tonight I decided to make shrimp fra diavolo. I needed a quick-rising bread to go with it and voila, here it is! Thank you for this!
This looks amazing! Even without the spiced up olive oil! I would dip this in everything I cooked! Pasta sauces, curry, olive oil, butter… the possibilities are endless!
Awesome! It is my go-to bread for weeknight dinners 😉
I made this lovely bread this week – and it turned out great. I gave you credit and linked back here. If you're interested, here's the post: https://cookingmisadventures.wordpress.com/2011/08… Thanks again for sharing such great recipes!
I found it required a lot more flour than the recipe suggested. But otherwise its wonderful!!!
I made this bread this weekend to go with our pasta dinner. IT WAS FABULOUS! Thank you for posting it! Also, I have never made bread before and it still turned out great, the instructions were easy to follow. Thank you so much. The spiced olive oil is amazing as well!
I made this as a Christmas appetizer. It turned out incredibly delicious and it was super easy. I plan to make it again.
Thanks, Katrina! I love your blog!!!
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My uncle, who is NOT a baker, made 4 mini loaves of this bread yesterday..and was raving about on his facebook page. That says alot right there 😛 thanks for sharing (and for bringing the men of the house into the kitchen). It’s really that easy!
This is the first time I’ve ever taken the time to write a review for a recipe but I just had to do it because this bread is absolutely fantastic!!! It was so easy & definitely restaurant quality. My husband said it was the best oil dipping bread he’s ever had & I have to agree. Thanks for this amazing recipe!!!
I’m so glad you had success with it!
Made these this afternoon. The BESTESTEST recipe for dipping bread! I think I may try some of your other recipes now, I was so impressed. =)
Can you freeze this bread? Try to figure out if I can bake this in advance of handing it out as holiday gifts.
Is this bread flour or just all purpose?
This has been my gift this year for office friends along with olive oil and seasoning. Everyone loved it and I am definitely an amateur bread maker. Thank you for this recipe!