Herbed Focaccia
Herbed Focaccia is rated
out of
5 by
2.
Prep Time:
30 minutes
Cook Time:
25 minutes
Servings:
8
Focaccia is so popular in Liguria that it is served all day long. Warm squares, rich with extra-virgin olive oil, are placed in linen-lined baskets on hotel breakfast tables, and shoppers and schoolchildren stop by bakeries for freshly baked pieces for lunch or a midafternoon snack. The popular flat bread is made in many other regions of Italy as well. Tuscans make focaccia alluva, with wine grapes scattered on top, while Apulians stud their version with pieces of fresh tomato. In Piedmont, one can find focaccia topped with walnuts and anchovies. It is also often dusted with coarse salt or fresh herbs, and sliced onions, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese or ground black pepper is not uncommon.
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 tsp. (1 package) active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup warm water (105° to 115°F)
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 6 Tbs. olive oil
- 5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme or 1/4 tsp. dried
thyme - 1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary or 1/4 tsp. dried
rosemary - 1 tsp. chopped fresh sage or 1/4 tsp. dried sage
- Coarse salt, to taste
Directions:
In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and let stand until creamy, about 5 minutes. Stir until dissolved. Add the milk and 4 Tbs. of the olive oil and stir to combine.
In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, stir together the flour, salt, thyme, rosemary and sage. Add the yeast mixture and stir until a soft dough forms, about 2 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Shape it into a ball.
Oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn it once to coat the top. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
Oil a 15-by-10-by-1-inch jelly-roll pan. Punch down the dough, transfer to the prepared pan, and flatten it out with your hands to cover the bottom completely. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise again in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
Preheat an oven to 450°F.
Using your fingertips, press down firmly into the dough to make dimples about 1 inch apart and 1 inch deep. Drizzle the entire surface with the remaining 2 Tbs. oil and sprinkle with the coarse salt.
Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Slide the focaccia onto a wire rack and let cool completely. Cut into squares to serve. Serves 8.
In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, stir together the flour, salt, thyme, rosemary and sage. Add the yeast mixture and stir until a soft dough forms, about 2 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Shape it into a ball.
Oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn it once to coat the top. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
Oil a 15-by-10-by-1-inch jelly-roll pan. Punch down the dough, transfer to the prepared pan, and flatten it out with your hands to cover the bottom completely. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise again in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
Preheat an oven to 450°F.
Using your fingertips, press down firmly into the dough to make dimples about 1 inch apart and 1 inch deep. Drizzle the entire surface with the remaining 2 Tbs. oil and sprinkle with the coarse salt.
Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Slide the focaccia onto a wire rack and let cool completely. Cut into squares to serve. Serves 8.
Adapted from
Williams-Sonoma Savoring Series,
Savoring Italy,
by Michele Scicolone
(Time-Life Books, 1999).
Recommended Products:
-
$14.95
-
$49.95
Rated 5 out of
5
by
BakerCathy from
Easy Focaccia with Nice Herb Flavor
Very easy to make Focaccia bread! Made per recipe the flavor was great. Good for dipping in olive oil and balsamic vinegar or for sandwich if split horizontally. Will enjoy topping with other ingredients too. A keeper!
Date published: 2015-08-16
Rated 4 out of
5
by
SunshineCa from
Very Easy!
The dough was made by using a stand mixer with dough attachment. Although the recipe calls for bread flour, I used regular all purpose flour. I did not need more than 3 cups of flour. The rest was according to the recipe. I gave it 4*s to draw attention to the flour measurement.
Date published: 2014-01-26