High-Protein Mediterranean Diet Bread Recipe With Olives & Walnuts (10 Ingredients) by Elisa Schmitz

I love making savory Mediterranean bread recipes that include nutritious ingredients found in the Mediterranean Diet. My latest was this high-protein Mediterranean spinach and feta bread recipe, which was discovered by 30Seconds community member Tom from Ireland.

Tom made the recipe and enjoyed it so much that he took the time to write me about it: "You've made my day, my weekend even. I made your Mediterranean feta spinach loaf and I absolutely love it. And there's lots of variation options. Next time I might add olives and walnuts. Could the yogurt, eggs, flour and cheese be a base for a nut loaf? I'm a big fan of experimentation in the kitchen and I've never been so excited by a recipe like I have yours. I'm a convert now, you're stuck with me on your fan base."

I wrote back to Tom: "I'm glad the Mediterranean loaf turned out so well for you, and I love your idea to add nuts and olives. You've inspired me to head to my kitchen to see what I can whip up."

Not long after, this high-protein Mediterranean bread recipe with kalamata olives and walnuts was baking in my oven. And, Tom was right – the combination of olives and walnuts was delicious in this flavorful bread!

Photo credit (all photos): Elisa Schmitz

I wrote to Tom: "I was inspired by you to make a variation of the loaf with kalamata olives and walnuts. Just delicious! I can’t wait to share the recipe and the story of how it came to be. That’s what 30Seconds is all about – inspiring each other to create!"

In addition to their salty, briny Mediterranean flavor, kalamata olives provide many health benefits. Despite being high in sodium, when eaten in moderation, tree-ripened kalamata olives are a nutritional powerhouse loaded with minerals, healthy fats and antioxidants, among other benefits.

Then there are all the health benefits of walnuts. Walnuts have more antioxidant activity and significantly more healthy omega-3 fatty acids than other common nuts, contributing to health benefits such as reduced inflammation and improved heart disease risk factors. This tangy, briny bread also incorporates the health benefits of cottage cheese and the health benefits of Greek yogurt. It also features feta cheese, which is considered to be one of the healthiest cheeses.

To make this Mediterranean loaf, you'll need the following ingredients: eggs, cottage cheese, plain Greek yogurt, flour, baking powder, salt, feta cheese, mozzarella cheese, kalamata olives and chopped walnuts. You whip the cottage cheese with the eggs in a blender. Next, you make the batter then bake the loaf until golden brown.

Serve this nutritious Mediterranean bread as a vegetarian side dish with lunch or dinner, as a savory snack or even for breakfast or for brunch. It's even more delicious when toasted in the oven (Tom heated up his bread on a George Foreman grill)!

Cuisine: Mediterranean / American (and now, Irish!) 
Prep Time: 15 minutes 
Cook Time: 45 to 55 minutes 
Total Time: 60 to 70 minutes 
Servings: 10

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
• 1 1/2 cups flour (all-purpose or gluten-free flour)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 5 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup kalamata olives, rinsed, pitted and diced (about 25 olives)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Here's how to make it:

1. To a blender, add the eggs and cottage cheese. Whip until smooth, about 30 seconds.
   
2. Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add the Greek yogurt and whisk to blend.
   
3. Add the flour, baking powder and salt. Add black pepper, to taste, if desired. Mix well to combine. (You can use all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour. I used GF 1:1 flour.)
   
4. Add the feta and mozzarella. Stir to combine. (Instead of mozzarella cheese, you can use Parmesan, if preferred.)
   
5. Fold in the olives and walnuts until incorporated. (To reduce sodium, rinse the olives before using.)
   
6. Evenly spread the batter into an 8x4-inch loaf pan that's been lined with parchment paper.
   
7. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 40 to 50 minutes, or until it passes the toothpick test. (If the loaf is getting too brown on top, you can cover it with aluminum foil.)
   
8. Allow loaf to cool to room temperature before slicing and serving.
   
9. Store the bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This bread is extra delicious when toasted in a toaster oven or regular oven (or on a George Foreman grill, like Tom!).
   

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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