Wegmans garlic Tuscan bread recipe

Introduction

The smell of fresh bread is so very comforting–that golden, yeast-buttery-smell that fills your kitchen and makes your home instantly.

And here is the same loaf dotted with withered garlic knots, rubbed with oil of olives and baked till the crust is as white as Cinderella and the interior as plush as a pillow. 

This is what makes the Wegmans Garlic Tuscan Bread Recipe a loaf so stuffed with Italian rustic essence and the warmth of garlic, that you will be wondering why you ever bought bread in the store.

You must have gone through the bakery area of Wegmans to be impressed by that aroma that simply cannot be stopped because of the warm bread that is drying in the rack, and garlic and herbs are smoldering. 

It is the kind of smell that causes you to turn your cart around and get another loaf. This Wegmans garlic Tuscan bread recipe can bring that bakery fresh experience to your home.

What is Wegmans garlic Tuscan bread?

Wegmans Garlic Tuscan Bread is essentially an Italian-style bread that is cooked using simple ingredients- flour, yeast, olive oil, water and salt but is made special by a heavy hand of roasted garlic and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, which gives every piece good taste.

This Tuscan loaf balances the situation unlike heavy garlic breads covered with butter. It is chewy and soft in texture and mild in taste due to the slow-roasted garlic that flows into the dough like butter. The result? A golden, aromatic bread that is ideal in a soup, with a pasta, or just ripping it apart whilst it is still hot and letting the steam get on your face.

It is not your typical loaf; it is a rustic masterpiece and yet it is elegant and earthly at the same time.

The account of my discovery of this.

I will never forget my first experience when I took Wegmans Garlic Tuscan Bread. I had a little dinner party of friends–a homelike, pasta-and-wine sort of party. I had taken a loaf in Wegmans because I wanted to save time, but as I sliced it open, I realized that it was something special. My knife cut through the crust with a slight crackle, and the breath of garlic, which was so warm and soothing, stopped everybody in the middle of their conversation.

Bread that night ran off at the circus. My friends literally turned a blind eye towards the pasta, but instead powdered it into olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I was aware that I had to get to know how to prepare it myself, and after a couple of attempts in my kitchen, I managed to nail it.

It is now part of my list of bakes whenever I want to have guests over on a weekend or when I need my kitchen to smell like heaven.

Equipment List

This Wegmans garlic Tuscan bread recipe does not require anything elaborate, just the essentials in making bread:

• Large mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon, or dough hook (stand mixer optional).
• Plastic wrap or a kitchen towel.
• Baking sheet or pizza stone
• Parchment paper
• Pastry brush
• Garlic roaster- or small baking dish.
• Cooling rack

Optional but nice to have:

• Instant-read thermometer (to identify the doneness of bread)
• Serrated bread knife

Ingredients For Wegmans garlic Tuscan bread recipe

For the Dough:

• 3½ cups bread flour (and additional to dust the bread)
• 1¼ cups warm water (approximately 110°F / 43°C)
• 2¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1½ tsp kosher salt

For the Roasted Garlic:

• 2 whole garlic bulbs
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Pinch of salt

For Topping and Finishing:

• 2 tbsp olive oil (for brushing)
• 1 tsp flaky sea salt
• 1/2 tsp -dried rosemary, or Italian seasoning (Optional)

Instructions for Wegmans garlic Tuscan bread recipe

Step 1: Roast the Garlic

Turn on your regular oven to 400°F (200 degrees C).

Chop the heads of the garlic bulbs and reveal the cloves, drizzle a lot of olive oil and sprinkle it with salt. So wrap closely in foil, and roast it, about 35-40 minutes, till the cloves are buttery and golden.

When the garlic is roasted, press the garlic into a tiny bowl when it is at room temperature and paste it. Stuff it aside,–but do not eat it out of the spoon!

Step 2: Activate the Yeast

Place warm water, sugar and yeast in a big bowl. Allow it 5 to 10 minutes to foam up to the top -and that counts as your yeast awakening.

Step 3: Make the Dough

To the yeast mixture add olive oil, salt, and approximately half of the flour. Continue stirring until it begins to thicken together, and then add the rest of the flour in small portions.

Knead the dough (6 minutes in a stand mixer) or about 8-10 minutes with your hands until the dough is smooth and has an elastic texture.

Should it be too sticky, pour a little more flour into it– but do not be extravagant! You would like a soft and sticky little bit of dough.

Step 4: First Rise

Put the dough in a greased bowl, wrap it in a kitchen towel and allow the dough to rise in a warm place for approximately 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Step 5: Shape the Loaf

Having risen, punch down the dough and roll it out into a rectangle. You should sprinkle your garlic paste that is roasted over the whole and then the paste should be rolled up into a jelly roll.

Put the ends back in, roll seam-side down on a baking sheet, parchment and mold it in either its round or oval form to become a loaf.

Step 6: Second Rise

Cover the shaped loaf and once more allow the loaf to rise within 30-40 minutes.

Step 7: Bake

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).

Brush the top of the dough with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and optional herbs.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until the crust is golden brown and when it is tapped on the bottom it makes a hollow sound.

Allow to cool down and then slice it up some– the garlic smell will make you feel like you can hardly wait but you will find it is well worth it.

Flavor Notes and Texture

This Wegmans Garlic Tuscan Bread Recipe provides a bread that is cozy and fine bread. The crust is so perfectly crunchy when you crunch into it, and the inside is so soft, chewy and wet.

The roasted garlic is sweet and very mellow; it is not harsh, but that rich buttery taste of it will stay on your tongue. The olive oil maintains the bread as well and a sprinkle of salt and herbs adds a little spiciness to every bite.

And drizzled with balsamic reduction, it is, quite literally, restaurant quality.

How to Serve It

These are my best methods of eating this bread:

With Pasta: Have it with creamy Alfredo or tomato basil pasta, the traditional Italian combination.

Dunk: It is delicious in a cup of tomato bisque or Tuscan white bean soup.

Cheese and Charcuterie: Toast Thin Slices and Sprinkle with Soft Cheese, Prosciutto, or even Fig Jam.

For breakfast: Reheat and add poached eggs and spinach that has been sauteed.

Or… be frank… and tear it up in your hands and eat it hot and plain and whole.

Variations

You can make minor modifications to this Wegmans Garlic Tuscan Bread Recipe to suit your mood:

Herb Lover: Add the dough to the chopped rosemary, thyme, or oregano.

Cheesy Twist: Before baking, sprinkle shredded Parmesan or mozzarella.

Whole Wheat Substitute: Replace half of the bread flour with whole wheat flour that is richer in nuts.

Stuffed Version: Add roasted cherry tomatoes or olives to add additional Mediterranean flavor.

Storage Tips

Homemade bread does not keep long– it is, however, mostly the reason why you will eat it all–but here is how to keep it fresh:

• Keep in a bread bag or in a towel at room temperature up to 2 days.
• To store, longer wrap in foil and freeze up to 2 months.
• To reclaim that fresh-baked crust, reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.

Why This Wegmans garlic Tuscan bread recipe Works

The simplicity of this recipe makes it beautiful. You do not have to cover the taste with butter or cheese; you allow the roasted garlic and olive oil to shine through. Each bite is natural, home-made, and sincere, just like Tuscan bread.

It is also extremely pardoning. This is the type of dough that can be made even by the first-time baker of bread, and it rises beautifully each time.

Final Thoughts

This was a simple pleasure recipe that never grows old, since this is Wegmans Garlic Tuscan Bread Recipe. It is that type of bread that makes one feel he or she is at home, warm, smelly, and soothing. 

It spreads the aroma of garlic and fresh dough all over your kitchen, and all the slices have the love and patience that were used to make it.

This bread is pure joy in every bite, whether you are having it with a meal or just taking a snack together with a glass of wine.

Well, then, get at it–tie up your apron, roast that garlic and make your kitchen smell like Wegmans. You’ll thank yourself later.