Miniature Olive Focaccias With Marinated Peppers Recipes

OLIVE FOCACCIA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and 1 cup flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, peppers, olives and parsley., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 50 minutes., Punch dough down. Shape into a 9-in. circle on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 25 minutes. With fingertips, make several dimples over top of dough. Brush with oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt and cheeses., Bake at 400° until golden brown, 14-18 minutes. Remove to a wire rack.

BLACK OLIVE AND ROSEMARY FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Stir together the water, sugar, and yeast until dissolved, allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 cup rosemary, flour, and salt until a dough forms. Turn onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Gently knead in the black olives during the last few minutes of kneading. Place into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled in bulk, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet, or sprinkle liberally with corn meal.
• Deflate dough, and press into prepared baking sheet. Brush dough with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Toss sliced tomatoes, and garlic with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season with 2 tablespoons minced rosemary, salt, and pepper. Arrange the tomato slices over the dough in an even layer. Sprinkle with grated cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until puffed and golden brown; 15 to 20 minutes. Cut into squares and serve immediately.

FOCACCIA WITH OLIVES AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Place 2 cups warm water in large bowl. Sprinkle dry yeast over; stir with fork. Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 10 minutes.
• Add 4 1/4 cups flour and salt to yeast mixture and stir to blend well (dough will be sticky). Knead dough on floured surface until smooth and elastic, adding more flour by tablespoonfuls if dough is sticky, about 10 minutes. Form dough into ball. Oil large bowl; add dough, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm area until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down dough; knead into ball and return to same bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm area until doubled, about 45 minutes or less
• Coat 15x10-inch baking sheet with 1 tablespoon oil. Punch down dough. Transfer to prepared sheet. Using fingertips, press out dough to 13x10-inch rectangle. Let dough rest 10 minutes. Drizzle 2 tablespoons oil over dough. Sprinkle olives and chopped rosemary evenly over. Let dough rise uncovered in warm area until puffy, about 25 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 475°F. Press fingertips all over dough, forming indentations. Bake bread until brown and crusty, about 20 minutes. Serve bread warm or at room temperature.

MINIATURE OLIVE FOCACCIAS WITH MARINATED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Make tomato paste:
• In a small food processor purée tomatoes, reserved tablespoon oil, pine nuts, and Parmesan until smooth. Tomato paste may be make 1 week ahead and chilled, covered.
• Prepare Peppers:
• Broiler method:
• Preheat broiler. Quarter peppers lengthwise, discarding stems, seeds, and ribs. Put peppers,skin sides up, on rack of a broiler pan and broil about 2 inches from heat until skins ate blistered and charred, 8 to 12 minutes. Transfer peppers to a bowl and let stand, covered, until cool enough to handle. Peel peppers.
• Gas stove method:
• Lay whole peppers, on their sides, on racks of burners (preferably 1 to a burner) and turn flame on high. Char peppers, turning them with tongs, until skin are blackened, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer peppers to a bowl and let stand, covered, until cool enough to handle. Peel peppers. Cut off tops and discard seeds and ribs.
• Cut roasted peppers into 1-inch-long thin strips. In a small bowl stir together peppers, garlic, oil, and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Marinate peppers at room temperature, covered, at least 3 hours. Peppers may be prepared 1 week ahead and chilled, covered.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. and lightly oil 2 large baking sheets.
• On a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin roll out dough into a 16-inch round (1/8 inch thick). Cut out 36 rounds with a 1 1/2-inch round cutter and arrange 1 inch apart on baking sheets. Spoon about 3/4 teaspoon tomato paste onto each round and top with about 12 tablespoon marinated peppers. Sprinkle hors d'oeuvres with thyme.
• Bake hors d'oeuvres in batches in middle of oven 16 minutes, or until rounds are pale golden, and cool on a rack. Hors d'oeuvres may be made 1 day ahead, cooled completely, and chilled, covered, or 1 month ahead and frozen. Bring hors d'oeuvres to room temperature and heat in a 300°F. oven 10 minutes before serving.