Fougasse with Mature Cheddar, Tomatoes and Curly Kale Pesto – The Ultimate Recipe

Total 50 min

Dive in on green pesto and other homemade dips with our easy-to-make recipe for Italian-inspired Fougasse bread. Donning leaf-shaped holes in the centre, each piece guarantees a crispy crust with a satisfying crunch. Glossed in a thin layer of olive oil and sweet tomato sauce, light shavings of Castello® Tickler Mature Cheddar ensure that flavours are simple and straightforward. Requiring only few ingredients and even less preparation, this French pizza bread works wonders as a starter for hungry guests or as a cosy snack at home. Sharing the spotlight, our recipe for Curly Kale Pesto is the cherry on top.

Copy link
Fougasse with Mature Cheddar, Tomatoes and Curly Kale Pesto – The Ultimate Recipe

Ingredients

1 portion basic pizza dough (for two large loaves)
1 portion tomato sauce

Curly kale pesto

100 g fresh curly kale, rinsed and trimmed
100 pine nuts, lightly toasted
150 ml olive oil
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt
ground pepper
some olive oil for brushing

Preparation

Preparation

Divide the dough into two equal portions. Roll each one out into a thin rectangle on a floured surface. Move the dough onto a piece of baking parchment. With a sharp knife, make one cut in the middle of the bread as well as two diagonal cuts on each side of the cut in the middle. Pull the dough gently to open up the holes.

Move the dough on the baking parchment over to a baking sheet and allow to rise covered for 15 min. Blend all the ingredients for the pesto and season to taste with salt and pepper. Preheat the oven to 200°C.

When the bread has risen, brush it with olive oil and tomato sauce, sprinkle with Castello Tickler Mature grated cheese and bake in the middle of the oven at 200°C for approx. 25 min.

Serve the bread with curly kale pesto for dipping.

Serving Suggestion

Leaving plenty of room for any condiment of your choosing, this sculptural pizza bread is the perfect dipping vessel for our homemade green pesto. Flavoured with lightly toasted pine nuts, garlic and fresh curly kale, this wholesome pesto offers smooth textures and a savoury palate. A hint of zesty lemon juice ensures that flavours are bright when topped on our flat bread Fougasse. Cut to shapes of leaves, the centre of this homemade French bread pizza is crispy and easy to pull apart – perfect for a hands-on treat or an engaging entrée!

Serving Suggestion

A finishing touch with big presence, the cheese topping of this Fougasse recipe is meant to add both taste and texture without overpowering the nuances from the pesto. This means going for a cheese that melts easily and evenly, while also having balanced flavours. Too mild, and the characteristics of the cheese risk being saturated from stronger condiments, while a cheese that is either too strong or too soft could overpower your palate in terms of taste and texture. Castello® Tickler Mature Cheddar delivers nuanced flavours and delicate crusts when baked.

Serving Suggestion

Known for its sharp character and lingering finish, our Castello® Tickler Mature Cheddar offers rich notes of roasted hazelnuts and salt crystals. Having a crumbly body from maturation, it grates easily and spreads evenly.

Tips & Tricks

Experiencing the full extent of the flavours of your dish, is a case of finding a wine or beer with complementing contrasts. A great rule of thumb is to look at the most prominent flavours of your dish and catering towards those. This means that going for the wrong pairing runs the risk of flavours being diluted or bland, as some wines and beers might be either too strong or too mild. In the end however, choosing what you want to pair your dish with is ultimately up to you, but finding the perfect matchup could make a huge difference in how you perceive the flavours of your dish!

Tips & Tricks

A full-bodied Malbec is the perfect counterbalance for our Castello® Tickler Mature Cheddar. In terms of beer, Lagers, Pale Ales and even ciders are great accompaniments.

Wood-Grilled Toast with Blue Cheese, Bacon and Honey

you might also like

all recipes

Ideas and Inspiration

  • Brunch
    Brunch

    Shared brunchtime with friends is a blank canvas to paint your own masterpiece. A stroke of dressing. A sprinkle of seasoning and a sprig of herb. Enjoy!

    Brunch
  • Dinner Party
    Dinner Party

    An intimate moment with the other half or a celebration with a small crowd of your favourite people. Any dinner party you throw is a time to enjoy and share new tastes.

    Dinner Party
  • Tapas
    Tapas

    A little social gathering is all the reason you need to serve up a selection of tasty small plates.

    Tapas
  • Date Night
    Date Night

    Turn down the lights, turn up the soft music and stir up the temperature with something indulging and unforgettable.

    Date Night
  • Easter
    Easter

    In between hunting for chocolate eggs and eating them, Easter is a great time to catch up with all the family and treat them to a delicious feast.

    Easter

products used