Description

This Cheese, Garlic and Herb Quick Bread is a flavorful no-yeast loaf combining fragrant herbs, garlic, and melty cheese swirled into a moist, tender batter. Perfect for a savory snack or accompaniment, this easy-to-make bread requires simple ingredients and minimal prep time, baking to a golden crust with cheesy pockets throughout.

Ingredients

Scale

Herb and Garlic Swirl

7 oz / 200g block of cheese (sliced)
2 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
2 tbsp fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 small garlic cloves, crushed or finely grated
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt (halve amount if using fine table salt)

Dry Ingredients

2 1/4 cups plain flour (all-purpose flour)
1 tsp baking soda (substitute with 3 1/2 tsp baking powder if preferred)
3/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt (halve if using table salt)

Wet Ingredients

1/2 cup plain yogurt (Greek or regular, full fat unsweetened)
3/4 cup milk (full fat preferred, low fat okay)
2 large eggs (~50-55g/2oz each)
3 1/2 tbsp (50g) unsalted butter, melted

Additional

2 tbsp olive oil
2 small garlic cloves, crushed or grated

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F), suitable for both fan and standard ovens.
Prepare Loaf Pan: Lightly grease a 21 x 11 x 7 cm (8.3 x 4.5 x 2.75 inch) loaf tin with butter or oil spray, then line it with baking paper (parchment paper) to prevent sticking.
Make Herb and Garlic Swirl: In a small bowl, combine the fresh rosemary, parsley, dried oregano, thyme, crushed garlic cloves, extra virgin olive oil, and 1/2 tsp salt to create a thick, dollop-able herb and garlic mixture.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the plain flour, baking soda, and 3/4 tsp salt until well combined.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the plain yogurt, milk, eggs, and melted unsalted butter until smooth and uniform.
Combine Wet and Dry: Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Gently mix until just combined; do not overmix to keep the bread tender.
Layer Batter and Swirl: Pour one-third of the batter into the prepared loaf tin. Dollop one-third of the herb and garlic mixture across the top. Use a knife to swirl the herbs into the batter by moving it up and down and turning the batter over.
Add Cheese: Scatter one-third of the cheese slices into the batter by pushing some slices fully into the mixture and leaving others poking out for a rustic look.
Repeat Layers: Repeat pouring batter, swirling herb mixture, and adding cheese two more times for three layers total. Do not worry if herb mixture or cheese remains visible on the surface; it will create an attractive baked finish.
Bake Bread: Bake the loaf for 30 minutes until the top is golden. Then cover the bread loosely with foil and bake for a further 20 minutes (total bake time 50 minutes). Test doneness by inserting a skewer in the center; it should come out clean.
Cool and Serve: Let the bread cool in the loaf tin for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Cool for at least 10 more minutes before slicing. Serve warm, optionally with butter spread on top for extra richness.

Notes

To substitute baking soda with baking powder, use 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder.
Halve the salt quantities if using fine table salt instead of kosher or cooking salt to avoid over-seasoning.
Full-fat dairy ingredients (milk, yogurt) work best for moistness, but low-fat options can be used with slightly drier results.
Allowing the bread to cool before slicing prevents crumbling.
Herb and garlic mixture can be adjusted to taste; fresh herbs provide brighter flavors.
Butter or oil spray works equally well to grease the pan, and lining with parchment paper ensures easy loaf removal.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Category: Bread
Method: Baking
Cuisine: European

Keywords: quick bread, cheese bread, garlic bread, herb bread, no yeast bread, savory bread, easy bread recipe