Description

This Cheese, Garlic and Herb Quick Bread is a flavorful loaf packed with ribbons of cheddar cheese and a fragrant swirl of fresh herbs and garlic. Perfect as a savory snack or a side to your meal, this bread combines simple ingredients with an easy baking process, resulting in a golden, moist, and aromatic bread that is delicious warm or at room temperature.

Ingredients

Scale

Cheese

7 oz / 200 g block of cheese (cheddar or tasty), cut into 3 mm / 0.1" thick slices, different widths for random ribbons throughout

Herb and garlic swirl

2 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
2 tbsp fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 garlic cloves, crushed using garlic press or finely grated
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt (halve for fine table salt)

Dry Ingredients

2 1/4 cups plain flour (all-purpose flour)
1 tsp baking soda (bi-carb soda), sub 3 1/2 tsp baking powder if preferred
3/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt (halve for table salt)

Wet Ingredients

1/2 cup plain yogurt, Greek or regular (full fat, unsweetened)
3/4 cup milk, full fat best, low fat okay
2 large eggs (~50-55g / 2 oz each)
3 1/2 tbsp (50g) unsalted butter, melted
2 tbsp olive oil
2 small garlic cloves, crushed with garlic crusher or grated

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Instructions

Preheat the oven: Set the oven to 180°C / 350°F (both fan and standard ovens are suitable) to prepare for baking.
Prepare the loaf tin: Lightly grease a 21 x 11 x 7 cm (8.3 x 4.5 x 2.75") loaf pan with butter or oil spray, then line it with baking paper (parchment paper) for easy bread removal.
Make the herb and garlic swirl: Combine the rosemary, parsley, oregano, thyme, crushed garlic, olive oil, and salt in a small bowl, mixing until it forms a thick, dollop-able mixture.
Mix dry ingredients: Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until evenly combined.
Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the yogurt, milk, eggs, melted butter, olive oil, and crushed garlic thoroughly until smooth.
Combine batter: Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, pour in the wet mixture, and gently mix until just combined; avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender.
First layer with swirls and cheese: Pour one-third of the batter into the loaf tin. Dollop one-third of the herb and garlic swirl over the batter. Use a knife to swirl the herbs through the batter by moving up and down and turning it over slightly. Add one-third of the cheese slices by pushing some slices fully into the batter, leaving some sticking out on top for visual appeal.
Second and third layers: Repeat the layering process two more times using the remaining batter, herb mixture, and cheese slices. Do not worry if herb mixture and cheese are exposed; they look attractive once baked.
Bake the bread: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes until the top is golden brown. Then cover the bread with foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes, totaling 50 minutes, ensuring the bread is cooked through.
Check doneness: Insert a skewer into the center of the bread; it should come out clean if the bread is fully baked.
Cool the bread: Let the bread rest in the loaf pan for 5 minutes after baking. Then carefully turn it out onto a cooling rack and allow it to cool for at least 10 more minutes before slicing thick pieces for serving. Butter can be added if desired.

Notes

Cheese: Pre-sliced cheese strips can be used but are thinner and less visible once baked. Cutting into varied widths (about 3-4 mm thick with half about 2.5 cm wide) creates interesting ribbons of cheese throughout the bread.
Shredded Cheese Alternative: You can substitute with 2 cups tightly packed (200g) shredded cheese stirred directly into the batter after combining wet and dry ingredients.
Cheese Types: Good choices include Colby, Cheddar, and Tasty cheese. Avoid mozzarella due to its low salt and mild flavor, which don’t complement the recipe as well.
Herbs: Feel free to experiment with herb combinations. When using dried herbs to substitute fresh, use about 1 tablespoon. Alternatively, you can use 1/3 to 1/2 cup of pesto for a different flavor twist.
Herb Preparation: Instead of chopping, you can blitz the herbs with a stick blender for a finer texture; add an extra tablespoon of oil if needed to loosen the mixture.
Loaf Pan Size: A larger pan produces a flatter loaf but still yields excellent results.
Storage: Keep the bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Beyond that, refrigerate and toast slices to refresh.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 250 kcal
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 350 mg
Fat: 15 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 20 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 8 g
Cholesterol: 55 mg