Golden Focaccia Recipes

THREE FLAVOUR FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Place the flours and ½ tablespoon of sea salt into a large bowl, and make a well in the middle. Add the yeast and sugar to the lukewarm water, and mix with a fork. Leave this for a few minutes and, when it starts to foam, slowly pour it into the well, mixing with a fork as you go.
• As soon as all the ingredients come together, which may take a minute or so, knead vigorously for around 5 minutes until you have a smooth, springy, soft dough.
• Lightly oil a large bowl with some olive oil and transfer the dough to the bowl. Dust with a little extra flour, cover with a tea towel and leave to prove in a warm place for 30 minutes until doubled in size.
• While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 220°C/425°F/gas 7 and prepare the toppings.
• For the balsamic onion topping, finely slice the onions and pick the thyme leaves. Fry the onions and thyme in 2 tablespoons of olive oil over a low heat for about 5 minutes. Add 6 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, reduce for a minute or two, then leave to cool.
• For the basil and cherry tomato topping, pick and roughly chop the basil leaves and halve the tomatoes. Pop the basil and tomatoes into a bowl and season with sea salt and black pepper, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a tiny splash of white wine vinegar. Peel and slice the garlic and mix into the bowl.
• To cook the focaccia, as soon as the dough has risen, pound it, then place on a baking tray and spread it out to cover the tray. Push down roughly on top of the dough like a piano to make lots of rough dips and wells.
• Divide the onion and the tomato toppings over two thirds of the focaccia.
• For the three-cheese and rosemary topping, break up the Taleggio and the goat's cheese over the remaining third of the focaccia. Grate a handful of Parmesan cheese and pick the rosemary leaves. Sprinkle both over the final third and season with pepper. Finish with a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt.
• Leave to prove for a further 20 minutes, then bake for 20 minutes, until golden on top and soft in the middle.

FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Tip the flour into a large mixing bowl. Mix the yeast into one side of the flour, and the fine salt into the other side. Then mix everything together, this initial seperation prevents the salt from killing the yeast.
• Make a well in the middle of the flour and add 2 tbsp oil and 350-400ml lukewarm water, adding it gradually until you have a slightly sticky dough (you may not need all the water). Sprinkle the work surface with flour and tip the dough onto it, scraping around the sides of the bowl. Knead for 5-10 mins until your dough is soft and less sticky. Put the dough into a clean bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for 1 hr until doubled in size.
• Oil a rectangle, shallow tin (25 x 35cm). Tip the dough onto the work surface, then stretch it to fill the tin. Cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for another 35-45 mins.
• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Press your fingers into the dough to make dimples. Mix together 1½ tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp water and the flaky salt and drizzle over the bread. Push sprigs of rosemary into the dimples in the dough.
• Bake for 20 mins until golden. Whilst the bread is still hot, drizzle over 1-2 tbsp olive oil. Cut into squares and serve warm or cold with extra olive oil, if you like.

FOCACCIA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2-cup warm water and honey; let stand for 5 minutes. Add flour, 1/4 cup oil, salt and remaining 3/4-cup water; mixing until smooth (dough will be wet). Scrape the sides of the bowl clean; cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes., Preheat oven to 425°. Brush a 13x9-in. baking pan with 1 tablespoon oil. Gently scrape dough directly into pan. With oiled hands, gently spread dough. If dough springs back, wait 10 minutes and stretch again. Make indentations in the dough with your fingers. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil; let rise until doubled in size, 30-40 minutes. , If desired, sprinkle with sea salt. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Cut into squares; serve warm.

THE BEST, EASIEST FOCACCIA BREAD RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and instant yeast. Add the water. Using a rubber spatula, mix until the liquid is absorbed and the ingredients form a sticky dough ball. Rub the surface of the dough lightly with olive oil. Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel, cloth bowl cover, or plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator immediately for at least 12 hours or for as long as three days. (See notes above if you need to skip the overnight rise for time purposes.) NOTE: It is important the dough really be slicked with olive oil especially if you are using a cloth bowl cover or tea towel as opposed to plastic wrap or a hard lid. If you are using a tea towel, consider securing it with a rubber band to make a more airtight cover. If you do not slick the dough with enough oil, you risk the dough drying out and forming a crust over the top layer.
• Line two 8- or 9-inch pie plates or a 9×13-inch pan (see notes above) with parchment paper or grease with butter or coat with nonstick cooking spray. (Note: This greasing step may seem excessive, but with some pans, it is imperative to do so to prevent sticking. With my USA pans, I can get away with olive oil alone; with my glass baking dishes, butter is a must.)
• Pour a tablespoon of oil into the center of each pan or 2 tablespoons of oil if using the 9×13-inch pan. Using two forks, deflate the dough by releasing it from the sides of the bowl and pulling it toward the center. Rotate the bowl in quarter turns as you deflate, turning the mass into a rough ball. Use the forks to split the dough into two equal pieces (or do not split if using the 9×13-inch pan). Place one piece into one of the prepared pans. Roll the dough ball in the oil to coat it all over, forming a rough ball. Repeat with the remaining piece. Let the dough balls rest for 3 to 4 hours depending on the temperature of your kitchen.
• Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat it to 425°F. If using the rosemary, sprinkle it over the dough. Pour a tablespoon of oil over each round of dough (or two tablespoons if using a 9×13-inch pan). Rub your hands lightly in the oil to coat, then, using all of your fingers, press straight down to create deep dimples. If necessary, gently stretch the dough as you dimple to allow the dough to fill the pan. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt all over.
• Transfer the pans or pan to the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the underside is golden and crisp. Remove the pans or pan from the oven and transfer the focaccia to a cooling rack. Let it cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving; let it cool completely if you are halving it with the intention of making a sandwich.

FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Combine the warm water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Put the bowl in a warm, not hot or cool, place until the yeast is bubbling and aromatic, at least 15 minutes.
• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, 1/2 cup olive oil and the yeast mixture on low speed. Once the dough has come together, continue to knead for 5 to 6 minutes on a medium speed until it becomes smooth and soft. Give it a sprinkle of flour if the dough is really sticky and tacky.
• Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly floured surface, then knead it by hand 1 or 2 times. Again, give it another sprinkle of flour if the dough is really sticky and tacky.
• Coat the inside of the mixer bowl lightly with olive oil and return the dough to the bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and put it in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, at least 1 hour.
• Coat a jelly roll pan with the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil. (Chef's Note: This may seem excessive, but focaccia is an oily crusted bread. This is why it is soooooooooo delicious!).
• Put the dough onto the jelly roll pan and begin pressing it out to fit the size of the pan. Turn the dough over to coat the other side with the olive oil. Continue to stretch the dough to fit the pan. As you are doing so, spread your fingers out and make finger holes all the way through the dough. (Chef's Note: Yes, this is strange. But when the dough rises again it will create the characteristic craggy looking focaccia. If you do not make the actual holes in the dough, the finished product will be very smooth.)
• Put the dough in the warm place until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour. While the dough is rising a second time, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Liberally sprinkle the top of the focaccia with some coarse sea salt and lightly drizzle a little oil on top. Bake the dough until the top of the loaf is golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the focaccia from the oven and let it cool before cutting and serving.
• Oh baby!

GOLDEN FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Make the starter by mixing the yeast and water, then adding the flour. Stir until the flour is incorporated.
• Cover and let rest at room temperature for about 14 hours. The starter will be bubbly.
• To make the dough, mix the active dry yeast (if using it) with a pinch of sugar and 2 tbl of the water and let it sit for 10 or 15 minutes, until it's bubbly and frothy.
• Combine the dissolved yeast or the instant yeast (whichever you are using) with the starter and the remaining dough ingredients and mix or knead - by hand, in your stand mixer or in your bread machine on the dough cycle - until you have a soft, smooth dough. A stand mixer will take about 7 minutes.
• Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for about an hour.
• Gently deflate it and allow it to rise for another hour - it should have doubled in bulk from its original volume.
• Lightly grease a 18" by 13" baking skeet with a rim, or two 9"x13" pans with vegetable oil spray. Drizzle olive oil on top of the spray. (The spray keeps the bread from sticking, the olive oil gives the bottom crust crunch and flavor).
• Gently pull and shape the dough into a rough rectangle and pat into the pan or pans. When the pieces start to shrink back, stop patting. Wait 15 minutes and pat further towards the edges of the pan(s). Repeat once more, if necessary, until the dough is close to covering the bottom of the pan(s).
• Cover and let the dough rise until it is very puffy. This will take about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. Toward the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Gently dimple the dough at irregular intervals with your fingers, pressing down firmly, but not abruptly - you do not want it to deflate too much.
• Spritz heavily with warm water (I don't always do this), drizzle with 2 tbl olive oil (or enough to collect a bit in the dimples), then sprinkle with the rosemary, black papper, and salt, to taste.
• Bake for about 10 minutes. If baking in two pans, reverse the pans, and continue baking until the focaccia is light golden brown, about another 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and immediately turn out onto a rack to cool.
• Note1: I usually use 1/2 cup warm milk, as I rarely have powdered milk around.
• Note2:Thyme is great instead of rosemary.

GARDEN FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups flour with 1 cup room-temperature water and 1/4 teaspoon yeast in a medium bowl. Stir to make a shaggy dough, making sure there are no dry pockets of flour or yeast. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until there are large air bubbles on the surface and the dough has risen, about 4 hours.
• Combine 3/4 cup warm water with 3 tablespoons olive oil and the honey in a liquid measuring cup; stir to dissolve the honey. Combine the remaining 2 1/2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons yeast and the kosher salt in a large bowl; stir to combine and make a well in the center. Pour the honey mixture into the well. Add the risen dough mixture and stir until combined. It will be very stretchy, but continue stirring until a shaggy dough forms, making sure there are no dry pockets of flour or yeast. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until more than doubled in size and there are air bubbles on the surface, 1 to 2 hours.
• Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray, then pour 3 tablespoons olive oil in the middle. Oil your hands, then run your hands down the inside of the bowl and remove the dough (it will deflate). Transfer the dough to the baking sheet and turn to coat in the oil. Shape the dough into a 12-inch-long oval, gently tucking the edges under if the dough spreads too much. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in size and there are air bubbles on the surface, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Uncover the dough, then press with your fingertips to create dimples in the surface. Top with vegetables and herbs in a garden pattern.
• Drizzle the dough and vegetables with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and gently rub it into the vegetables, pressing them into the dough. Sprinkle with flaky salt. Bake until the bottom of the focaccia has browned, the top is golden and the vegetables are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes on the baking sheet.

THANKSGIVING FOCACCIA RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, kosher salt, chicken bouillon, and yeast. Pour in the chicken stock and honey and stir with a rubber spatula until a shaggy dough forms and no dry spots remain.
• Grease another large bowl with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Transfer the dough to the greased bowl and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight in the refrigerator. The dough should double in size.
• Make the filling: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up into small pieces, until no longer pink, 5-6 minutes. Remove the sausage from the pan and set aside. Reserve ¼ cup of the sausage for topping the focaccia.
• Wipe out any excess grease from the skillet with a paper towel. Add the butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the onion, apples, and celery. Season with kosher salt and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, sage, parsley, and thyme and cook until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cooked sausage. Let the filling cool to room temperature.
• Assemble the focaccia: Grease an 8 x 13-inch baking sheet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, using your hands to spread the oil all around the pan to coat. Divide the dough in half and transfer one portion to the oiled pan. With oiled hands, gently stretch the dough to fill the baking sheet.
• Spread the filling over the dough, then press the remaining dough over the filling, making sure to seal the edges so the filling is encased between the dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let proof at room temperature for 1-2 hours, until the dough rises to fill the pan.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Remove the plastic wrap and drizzle the dough with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Use your fingers to dimple the surface of the dough. Garnish with the reserved cooked sausage, apple slices, sage leaves, thyme, flaky salt, and black pepper.
• Bake the focaccia for 40-45 minutes, turning halfway through, until the bread is golden brown and crispy.
• Remove the focaccia from the oven and let cool in the pan for 15 minutes before serving.
• Enjoy!