Artichoke Focaccini Recipes

ARTICHOKE FOCACCIA WITH ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle the cornmeal over the parchment paper and set aside.
• Place 2 1/2 cups flour in a large mixing bowl. Make a well.
• Pour water and 2 tablespoons oil into well. Sprinkle yeast and salt over the water.
• Stir dough together with a spoon. (Dough will be ragged.)
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Add 1/4 cup flour.
• Knead dough for 6-8 minutes, adding very small amounts of flour as needed or until dough is smooth, soft and springs back from the touch.
• Drizzle a small amount of olive oil into the mixing bowl and place dough in bowl. Turn dough so that it's covered with oil.
• Cover with a clean kitchen towel and place in a warm place to rise for 60-90 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Meanwhile, prepare artichoke combination: Combine artichoke hearts, rosemary, garlic, 3 tablespoons olive oil and salt to taste in a bowl. Set aside.
• When the dough has doubled in size, cut the dough into four even pieces.
• On a floured surface, roll each piece into a 6 to 7-inch circle and place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Create a few "dimples" with your finger.
• Sprinkle each circle evenly with Parmesan cheese.
• Place even amounts of the artichoke combination on each of the circles, gently pressing it into the dough.
• Cover with the towel and let rise again another 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes.
• Sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Serve, dipped in good extra-virgin olive oil or other seasoned olive oil.

ARTICHOKE, TOMATO AND ASIAGO FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Scald the milk, and cool to lukewarm, not too hot, or it will kill the yeast (about 100F).
• Mix flour, yeast, oil and milk in a medium bowl, cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
• Sprinkle on salt and mix dough in an electric mixer with dough hook on low medium speed, adding flour as needed until it is sticky and stretchy, and comes away from the sides of the bowl. (You can knead by hand, it will just take longer.).
• Let dough rest, covered, 30 minutes, knead again for about 5 minutes. The dough should be very sticky, but hold together in a ball.
• Rinse and drain artichoke hearts, and finely chop.
• Mix artichokes, tomatoes, and cheese, set aside.
• The tomatoes will absorb any excess moisture from artichokes and soften nicely.
• Let the dough rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Scrape out onto a floured countertop or large cutting board.
• Shape the dough into a rough rectangle.
• Roll with a floured rolling pin to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
• Top roughly 2/3 of the dough with cheese, tomatoes, and artichokes, the mixture should be damp, but not dripping wet.
• Fold dough into thirds, like an envelope, with the empty third over the center, and the other side over that, and roll again gently, until the fillings just begin to be visible through the top of the dough.
• Place dough on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or silpat.
• Preheat oven to 450F; let dough rise, loosely covered, 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until puffy and soft.
• Brush dough with olive oil. Use fingers to make several small dimples in bread.
• Sprinkle with kosher salt, and more cheese if you like.
• Bake for 15 minutes, rotating pan after 10 minutes.
• Let cool slightly before cutting into squares.

ARTICHOKE-BRIE FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Split focaccia (to make a top and bottom, like a sandwich).
• Place focaccia in a warm oven and heat just until crisp; remove and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Trim and discard rind from cheese; cut cheese into large pieces.
• Place in a medium microwave-safe bowl; microwave on high for 30 to 45 seconds or until cheese begins to melt.
• Stir in artichoke hearts and bacon.
• Microwave cheese mixture on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until heated through, stirring once or twice.
• Spread mixture on focaccia bottom.
• Place focaccia top over mixture.
• Place on baking sheet.
• Bake, uncovered, 8 to 10 minutes or until heated through.
• Cut into 4 x 1 inch strips or wedges. Garnish with rosemary if desired.

BAKED STUFFED ARTICHOKES WITH FOCACCIA (THE OLIVE GARDEN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• ARTICHOKE STUFFING.
• USE scissors to snip off sharp points of each artichoke leaf.
• COMBINE lemon halves, chopped onion, water, wine, bay leaf and peppercorns in a stock pot. Bring to a boil; add artichokes.
• SIMMER until artichokes are tender, about 10-15 minutes. Remove pot from heat and allow artichokes to cool in stock.
• STUFFING:.
• MELT butter in a medium saucepan. Add remaining onions and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and let cool.
• CUT cooled artichokes in half, lengthwise, exposing inner leaves.
• SCOOP out center prickly leaves with a teaspoon, leaving the choke (heart) intact. Place stuffing in the hollowed-out artichoke.
• TOP with cheeses and bake at 350ºF until center is hot (about 20 minutes).