Italian Cheese Loaf

Total Time Prep: 15 min. Bake: 25 min.
Yield 12 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
Here's a deliciously different sandwich. It's yummy warm from the oven or off the grill at a cookout. The cheesy filling is complemented by a mix of garden-fresh ingredients and crusty bread. I usually serve it with a salad and onion rings. —Mary Ann Marino, West Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf (1 pound) French bread
  • 2 cups diced fresh tomatoes
  • 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped ripe olives
  • 1/4 cup Italian salad dressing
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh basil or 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano or 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Cut top half off loaf of bread. Carefully hollow out both halves of loaf, leaving a 1/2-in. shell (discard removed bread or save for another use).
  2. Combine remaining ingredients. Spoon into bottom half of bread, mounding as necessary; replace top. Wrap in foil. Bake until cheese is melted, about 25 minutes. Slice and serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 204 calories, 8g fat (4g saturated fat), 18mg cholesterol, 478mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 9g protein.

Here's a deliciously different sandwich. It's yummy warm from the oven or off the grill at a cookout. The cheesy filling is complemented by a mix of garden-fresh ingredients and crusty bread. I usually serve it with a salad and onion rings. —Mary Ann Marino, West Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Recipe Creator

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