Honey Focaccia Recipes

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.

FOCACCIA WITH BLUE CHEESE AND HONEY

Steps:

• In a large bowl or the work bowl of an electric mixer dissolve yeast in the milk. Add sugar and 1 cup of the flour. Mix well and let stand in a warm place about 15 minutes for the yeast to activate.
• Mix another 2 1/2 cups flour into the yeast mixture with the dough hook attachment until smooth. With the machine running, add 1 cup flour and knead for 6 minutes. Turn out onto a board and lightly knead in remaining 1/2 cup flour. The dough should remain rather wet to ensure a soft and light bread. Shape the dough into a ball and put it in an oiled bowl. Cover with a damp towel and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk about 20 minutes.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Press dough with finger to gently stretch dough to fit in pan, and then use a rolling pin to lightly flatten.
• Oil an 11 by 17-inch baking sheet with 1/3 cup olive oil. Transfer the dough to the baking sheet. Using your fingertips, nudge the dough into a rectangle.
• Cover and let rise again until doubled, 30 to 40 minutes.
• To bake, preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Make indentations all over the dough by pressing with your fingertips being careful not to puncture all the way through the dough. Brush olive oil over the top, filling in the wells. Sprinkle the salt and rosemary over the surface. Bake until crisp on the bottom and golden brown on top, about 30 to 35 minutes.
• Cut into wedges, top with crumbled blue cheese and honey.

HONEY FOCACCIA

Steps:

• GET AHEAD You can do this on the day, if you prefer. Put the flour and 1 level teaspoon of sea salt into a large bowl and make a well in the middle. In a jug, mix the yeast into 300ml of lukewarm water, stir in the yoghurt and 1 tablespoon of honey, and leave for a few minutes. Now, gradually pour the mixture into the well, stirring and bringing in the flour from the outside to form a dough. Knead on a flour-dusted surface, picking the dough up and slapping it back down, for 10 minutes, or until smooth and springy. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight. If making on the day, cover with a clean damp tea towel and prove in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
• ON THE DAY Lightly oil a deep baking tray (30cm x 40cm). Tip in the dough, pull and stretch it out to fill the tray, then use your fingers to gently push down and create lots of dips and wells. Drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle generously with black pepper and a little sea salt, cover the tray with a clean damp tea towel, then prove in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
• TO SERVE Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/gas 7. Very carefully - to keep the air in the dough - transfer the tray to the bottom of the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Drizzle and brush with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and the remaining honey - I like to use a sprig of rosemary to do this - and move to a board ready to slice.

FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Brush a 12 by 18-inch baking tray with olive oil. Set aside.
• Using the mixer bowl, combine the yeast, 4 ounces of water and honey. Stir together until yeast dissolves into the water. Add 2 ounces of flour and mix to make a sponge. Let rise until double.
• Gradually add the remaining flour, water, olive oil, and salt. Using the dough hook attachment, mix over medium speed to make a soft dough. Beat for 3 minutes. Turn off machine, scrape sides of bowl and allow dough to relax for 10 minutes.
• Turn on mixer and continue to mix the dough for another 5 minutes at medium speed. The dough will become velvety and elastic. Transfer dough onto prepared baking tray.
• Stretch the dough to fill the tray. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise at room temperature for 20 minutes.
• Uncover the dough and stretch to cover the entire baking tray. Brush with olive oil and dimple with fingertips. Sprinkle with kosher salt, pepper, and thyme. Proof for 15 minutes. Bake for 10 minutes, turn around and bake another 6 to 8 minutes.

FOCACCIA WITH HERBED-HONEY PLUMS AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the yeast and warm water. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Using a wooden spoon, stir the flour, sugar and 1 tablespoon salt into the yeast solution and mix until a shaggy dough forms. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil and fit the mixer with the dough hook. Beat on medium speed to knead until smooth and elastic, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large bowl. Transfer dough to the bowl and turn to coat lightly with oil. Cover bowl with a clean dish towel. Set in a warm place until dough has doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
• While dough is rising, combine the honey and herbs in a small pot. Gently warm over low for 8 minutes. Remove from heat and let herbs steep until ready to use.
• In a medium bowl, toss the plums with 2 tablespoons of the herbed honey. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and mix.
• Spread remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil on a half-sheet pan. Transfer the dough to the pan and, using your hands, pat into an oval, about ½-inch thick, leaving about a 1-inch border between the dough and edges of the pan. Allow the dough to rise to about 3/4-inch thickness, uncovered, 20 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Use your fingers to make dimples all over the surface of the dough. Top the dough with the herb sprigs from the honey (reserve the honey) and the sliced fruit. Discard any liquid from the fruit. Drizzle the top all over with olive oil. Bake until the dough is light golden brown and the fruit is cooked through and soft, about 25 minutes.
• Dab the surface with the herbed honey while the focaccia is still hot. Allow to cool slightly before topping with the prosciutto. Move the bread to a board and cut into squares while warm to serve.

MICHAEL'S FOCCACIA BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve honey in the warm water in a large bowl, then sprinkle yeast over the top. Let stand for 5 minutes until the yeast softens and begins to foam. Stir in 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon olive oil, onions, and 5 cups of flour until the dough comes together. Knead on a well floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. 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 until doubled in volume, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 415 degrees F (215 degrees C).
• Place dough onto oiled baking sheet, and flatten to cover the whole sheet evenly. Use the tips of your fingers to make indentations all over the dough spaced about 1 inch apart. Drizzle the focaccia with 3 tablespoons olive oil, then sprinkle rosemary, Parmesan cheese, and remaining 1 tablespoon of kosher salt over the top. Let rise for 10 minutes
• Bake in preheated oven 20 minutes until golden brown.