Crispy Olive Herb Focaccia Food

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.

EASY LOW-FLOUR CAST IRON FOCACCIA BREAD RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the warm water and yeast. Let bloom for 5 minutes until foamy and fragrant.
• Add the flour, salt, and 1 tablespoon olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir with a rubber spatula until the flour is fully incorporated. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead 10-12 times, until smooth, dusting with more flour as needed if the dough is sticky. Shape the dough into a ball.
• Grease an 8-inch cast iron skillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Transfer the dough to the skillet and, with lightly oiled hands, carefully spread out the dough until it covers the bottom of the pan. Press with your fingertips to create tiny indentations in the top of the dough.
• Cover the pan with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough proof in a warm place for 1-1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C)
• Drizzle the top of the dough with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with the rosemary, parsley, and red pepper flakes, if using.
• Transfer the focaccia to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil before slicing and serving.
• Serve with more extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping, if desired.
• Enjoy!

CRISPY OLIVE & HERB FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Stir the yeast into a large mixing bowl with the water & let proof for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the olive oil, rosemary, sage, olives & garlic. Using a wooden spoon, mix in the flours & salt & stir until the dough is thick & smooth.
• Knead by hand for 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is firm & elastic. Set the dough in a lightly oiled container, cover with plastic wrap & let rise until doubled.
• Turn the dough onto an oiled 10 1/2" X 15 1/2" baking pan & stretch it to fit. If it won't fit, let it rest for 10 minutes & try again.
• Cover with a towel & leave until it has half risen, about 30 minutes.
• 30 minutes before baking, preheat oven to 400F.
• Just before baking, dimple the top of the dough with your fingerti ps & sprinkle with some extra salt & 2 tsp of oil.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden.
• Slide off baking sheet onto a rack & let cool for a few minutes before eating warm or at room temperature.
• VARIATION: Focaccia Dolce. Substitute 2 oz raisins & 1 oz pine nuts for the olives, herbs & garlic. Soak the raisins in warm water for 30 minutes before using & toast the pine nuts.

HERB OIL FOCACCIA

Steps:

• First make the starter dough - mix the yeast with 100ml hand-hot water in a small bowl. Leave for 5 mins until bubbling. Add the flour to a large bowl, and pour in the yeast mix and another 250ml hand-hot water. Beat vigorously with your hand for a few mins. (The dough will be really wet but don't worry, you'll be adding more flour later.) Scrape all the dough from your hands and the sides of the bowl. Cover tightly with cling film and leave to ferment in the fridge for at least 12 hrs, overnight if possible.
• Meanwhile, make the herb oil. Set aside 2-3 sprigs each of rosemary and thyme, plus a few bay leaves. Bash the rest using a pestle and mortar (or use a rolling pin) to release the flavours, then stuff into a large sterilised bottle or Kilner jar, or a few jam jars (see tip, right). Heat the oil in a saucepan until just warm, then carefully pour into the bottle using a funnel. Leave to cool before securing with a lid.
• Take the starter dough out of the fridge about 1 hr before you want to make your focaccia - it should have risen considerably. To finish the dough, mix in the additional flour, the sea salt and herb oil until it's soft yet slightly sticky. Knead the dough with extra oil for 5 mins until smooth and springy. Return to a clean, warm bowl and leave to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hr.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Turn the risen dough onto a deep oiled baking tray (about 20 x 30cm) and press to a rectangle about 2cm thick. Break the reserved herbs into smaller bits and push them into the dough. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise until doubled in size.
• Once risen, press lots of holes into the dough with your fingers. Brush the top with a little more herb oil and sprinkle over some rough sea salt. Fill a shallow tray with some water and put in the bottom of the oven, with the bread on a shelf above. Bake for 25 mins until golden, reducing the temperature to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 if the bread starts to brown too much. Remove from the oven, scatter over the reserved herbs and bake for another 10-15 mins until cooked through. Cool on a wire rack until ready to eat. Tear into chunks and dip in more herb oil, if you like.