Best Star Bread Recipe: How to Make Your Own Pesto Star Bread

Introducing a showstopper pull-apart bread: the pesto star bread! It has a soft and fluffy dough, enriched by an indulgent, savoury homemade pesto filling. I had so much fun putting this together and even more, fun sharing it with my family. The process’s quite simple and I am going to spill all my secrets on how you can make your own pesto star bread. So exciting!

JUMP TO RECIPE

What is a Star Bread?

It’s simply a pull-apart bread, made out of an enriched dough that is rolled out in circles. In between, it can have a sweet or savoury filling such as pesto, cheese and herbs, Nutella or even jam.

How to make the dough?

You can make the dough using the traditional method and therefore, using your hands, alternatively, you can use a stand mixer. 

If you are using your hands, start by sifting the flour into a shallow bowl. Add the salt and sugar and mix using a fork. Make a well in the middle then add the yoghurt, the water and oil, the egg and lastly the fresh yeast (crumble it with your hands).

Mix all the ingredients together initially using a fork, then transfer the dough into your floured worktop and start kneading the dough until smooth. Keep kneading until it no longer sticks to your hands or the surface. You might find that the dough it’s sticky at the beginning, but don’t worry, just continue and keep flouring your hands and the work surface.

If you are using a stand mixer, add all the ingredients to your bowl and mix well until you obtain a smooth, springy and soft dough.

How to create that beautiful Star Bread Shape

This is the most fun and enjoyable part of this recipe. I mean. just look at the result!

This is what you need to do: 

1. Flour your worktop and roll each dough into a 10-inch (25 cm) round.
2. Prepare 2 trays with parchment paper (one for each start bread). Place the first circle of dough onto the tray and add the pesto in an even layer leaving 1 inch (2.5 cm) free from the border.
3. Beat the egg with the milk using a fork. Brush the border of the first circle with this mix then add the second layer of dough and gently press the edges using your fingers.
4. Flour the borders of a glass and place in the middle of the dough pressing gently. Then cut the dough into 16 equal strips using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter.
5. Beat the egg with the milk using a fork. Brush the border of the first circle with this mix then add the second layer of dough and gently press the edges using your fingers.
6. Take two slices of dough and twist away from each other twice. Repeat with all the remaining stripes. Take each pair of twisted slices and press the ends together firmly to seal them.

The Pesto Filling

The pesto filling it’s rich, savoury and so delicious! You can choose a store-bought pesto for sure, however, in my opinion, the homemade version is so much healthier and tastier. You can follow the recipe below to make your own pesto or you can check the full post here. 

The Best Pesto Star Bread

Yield: 12 Servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Additional Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes

Introducing a showstopper pull-apart bread: the pesto star bread! It has a soft and fluffy dough, enriched by an indulgent, savoury homemade pesto filling.

Print

Ingredients

The Dough

• 500 g "00" flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 150 g greek yogurt
• 200 ml lukewarm water
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 20 g fresh yeast
• 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds

Fresh Basil and Pine Nuts Pesto

• 35 g fresh basil
• 1 garlic clove
• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 100 g pine nuts
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 25 g parmesan cheese, finely grated
• 25 g pecorino cheese, finely grated
• pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Sift the flour into a shallow bowl. Add the salt and sugar and mix using a fork. Make a well in the middle then add the yogurt, then the water and oil, the egg and lastly add the fresh yeast (crumble it with your hands).
2. Mix all the ingredients together initially using a fork, then transfer the dough into your floured worktop and start kneading the dough until smooth. Keep kneading until it no longer sticks to your hands or the surface.
3. If you are using a stand mixer, add all the ingredients to your bowl and mix well until you obtain a smooth, springy and soft dough.
4. Lightly oil a large bowl with some olive oil and transfer the dough to the bowl. Dust with a little extra flour, cover with a tea towel and leave to prove in a warm place for 40 - 45 minutes until doubled in size.
5. Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and cut into 4 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a small round ball then cover with a slightly damp towel and let them prove again for another 15 minutes.
6. Now it’s time for the pesto. Add all the ingredients for the pesto into a food processor and blitz on low speed until you obtain the desired consistency. Set aside.
7. Flour your worktop and roll each dough into a 10-inch (25 cm) round.
8. Prepare 2 trays with parchment paper (one for each start bread). Place the first circle of sough onto the tray and add the pesto in an even layer leaving 1 inch (2.5 cm) free from the border.
9. Beat the egg with the milk using a fork. Brush the border of the first circle with this mix then add the second layer of dough and gently press the edges using your fingers.
10. Flour the borders of a glass and place in the middle of the dough pressing gently. Then cut the dough into 16 equal stripes using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter.
11. Beat the egg with the milk using a fork. Brush the border of the first circle with this mix then add the second layer of dough and gently press the edges using your fingers.
12. Take two slices of dough and twist away from each other twice. Repeat with all the remaining stripes. Take each pair of twisted slices and press the ends together firmly to seal them.
13. Repeat the same steps to create the second start bread.
14. Cover again with a down and let them rest for 15 minutes. In the meantime, preheat your over at 180 degrees Celsius (356 F).
15. Before baking, brush the start bread with the egg-wash and sprinkle the sesame seeds.
16. Bake each star bread individually for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
17. Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.