Cucina Cucina Focaccia Bread Recipes

FOCACCIA BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt, sugar, yeast, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, basil and black pepper. Mix in the vegetable oil and water.
• When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Punch dough down; place on greased baking sheet. Pat into a 1/2 inch thick rectangle. Brush top with olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.

ROSEMARY FOCACCIA

Steps:

• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of the salt. Mix on low speed to combine. Add the water and ½ cup of the olive oil; mix on low speed until the dough comes together, then turn the speed up to medium-low and continue to knead for 5 to 6 minutes, until the dough becomes soft and slightly tacky. It should stick to the bottom of the bowl a bit. If the dough seems too wet, sprinkle with a few tablespoons of flour, and turn the mixer back on to knead it briefly to combine.
• Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly floured surface (it helps to flour your hands, too). Knead by hand briefly until the dough comes together into a smooth ball.
• Coat the inside of a large bowl with about 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl, flipping once so that both the top and bottom are lightly slicked with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in a warm, draft-free spot until the dough has doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours. (The warmer the spot, the faster it will rise.)
• Coat a 13" x 18" rimmed baking sheet with ¼ cup of olive oil. (It will seem like a lot, but that's what makes the bottom crispy.) Plop the dough onto the prepared pan and begin pressing it out with your hands to fit the size of the pan. Turn the dough over once to coat both sides with olive oil. Continue to stretch the dough to fit the pan. Once the dough is stretched, spread your fingers out and make impressions almost all the way through the dough (don't poke holes, just press down to the bottom of the pan). Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place in the warm, draft-free spot until the dough has puffed up and doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• While the dough is rising a second time, preheat the oven to 425°F. Set an oven rack in the middle position.
• Sprinkle the top of the focaccia dough with the remaining ¾ teaspoon kosher salt and rosemary, then lightly drizzle about 1 tablespoon of olive oil on top so it pools in the indentations. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove the focaccia from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 15 minutes. Transfer the focaccia to a cutting board and slice into squares. Drizzle a touch more oil on top before serving, if desired.
• Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: Focaccia is best eaten freshly baked but it can be made 1 day ahead of time, if necessary. For best results, wrap the focaccia in aluminum foil and place in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature. Reheat, wrapped in foil, in a 350°F oven until just warmed through, about 10 minutes. The focaccia can also be made ahead and frozen. To freeze, cut it into portions, wrap in plastic wrap and then foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat the focaccia, remove the plastic wrap and re-wrap it in the foil. Heat it in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes or until heated through.
• Note: Active dry yeast may be used instead of instant/rapid-rise yeast, however, the dough will take longer to rise. To give active dry yeast a boost, you can add it to the warm water in the recipe, let it sit until frothy, about 10 minutes, and then proceed with the recipe.

ITALIAN FOCACCIA BREAD {LIGURUIAN FOCACCIA}

Steps:

• In a mixer bowl add lukewarm water and yeast.Let sit for a few minutes until yeast is completely dissolved.
• If you're using a stand mixer use dough hook attachment.Combine in a mixer bowl malt (or honey), flour, olive oil and salt. Give a quick stir with a spatula or a fork.
• Start kneading on low speed. Once flour has been completely incorporated increase the speed and knead for about 10 minutes until the dough comes together around the kneading hook, becomes elastic and smooth.Add a bit more flour if needed.
• Place the dough in a large bowl greased with extra virgin olive oil.Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and kitchen towel.Let rise for 1.5 - 2 hours in a warm place (75-80F).Past that time the dough should double or even triple in size.
• Pour extra virgin olive oil on a quarter-sheet (9x13 inch) baking pan.Let the dough come out from the bowl onto the pan. Turn it over to coat another side of the dough with olive oil.
• Using your hands pat the dough down to fit the pan. Try to maintain the same thickness all over the pan.Cover with a lid if you have a lid that fits the pan or with linen towel and let rise for another 30-60 minutes or until it has doubled in size.In the meantime, prepare salamoia: beat quickly lukewarm water with extra virgin olive oil.Beat quickly lukewarm water with extra virgin olive oil for salamoia. Once your focaccia has doubled in size pour salamoia all over it.
• Lightly oil your hands and using your fingers press down the dough to imprint typical dimples all over focaccia.Sprinkle with coarse sea salt or sea salt flakes.
• Bake in a preheated to 450F oven for 15-20 minutes (preferably in the lower part of the oven).Once out of the oven brush your focaccia with extra virgin olive to taste.

ROSEMARY FOCACCIA BREAD

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast, 1 tablespoon rosemary and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.
• With a wooden spoon, stir in water and 3 tablespoons olive oil; beat mixture vigorously for 5 minutes.
• Cover bowl with a clean towel and let dough rise in a warm place, away from drafts, until doubled in size (about 40 minutes).
• Turn dough onto a floured surface and gently knead for one minute.
• Lightly oil two large baking sheets (I use baking stones).
• Divide dough in half, placing one half on each baking sheet.
• Press or roll out each to a 10-inch round.
• Cover rounds with clean towels and let rise until doubled in size (about 30 minutes).
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• With finger tips, make indentions all over surface of focaccia and brush each round with 1/2 tablespoon remaining olive oil.
• Sprinkle rounds with remaining rosemary and sea salt.
• Bake 15 minutes or until golden.
• Cut in wedges and serve warm.

CUCINA CUCINA FOCACCIA BREAD

Steps:

• Split the dough into 5 or 7 ounce balls and roll out very thin-- to 10 inches if you are using 5 ounces of dough and 13 inches for a 7 ounce ball.
• Brush with the olive oil, then spread the olives and a bit of salt over the skin.
• Sprinkle a baking sheet with cornmeal and bake for about 10 minutes in a 400 F oven or until lightly browned.