Kenny Rankins Rosemary Focaccia Food

KENNY RANKIN'S ROSEMARY FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Combine the bread flour, 00 flour, water, yeast and 15g salt in a mixing bowl and knead gently until smooth. This should take approximately 5 to 10 minutes.
• Cover the mixing bowl with a tea towel and leave to rest, in a warm place, for 45 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size. This allows the bread to become lighter and softer in texture.
• While the dough is rising, prepare a baking tray by lightly oiling the base and sides using vegetable oil. Now's a good time to make sure your wood fire oven is pre-lit and ready for your bread.
• Transfer the dough to the baking tray. Spread out evenly using the palm of your hands and gently expel the gas from the dough (you'll notice that the dough is airy).
• Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil over the surface of the dough using your fingertips; 'dimple' the dough ensuring that you don't press all the way through to the base.
• Cover with the tea towel and leave to rest in a warm place for a further 20 to 40 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in size.
• Place the baking tray in the wood-fired oven for 15 minutes or until lightly golden; this will vary depending on temperature so it's best to keep a close eye on the bread for your first attempt.
• Just prior to the bread coming out of the wood-fired oven, mix together 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of water. Whisk lightly until it becomes an opaque emulsion. Once removed, brush the bread with the emulsion (I use a pastry brush), which makes the bread surface moist.
• To finish, stud the bread with fresh sprigs of rosemary and sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt. Serve warm with a small bowl of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

OLIVE AND ROSEMARY FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Line a sheet tray with parchment paper and grease with a thin layer of olive oil.
• Place sugar and 1 1/2 cups water into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Sprinkle the yeast over the top. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes to activate the yeast.
• Combine the bread flour, all-purpose flour, salt and the tablespoon rosemary in a large bowl. Add to the mixer along with the oil. Knead the dough on medium speed until it forms a smooth, supple ball that is not sticky to the touch, about 5 minutes. Turn the dough out on the prepared sheet tray, drizzle with olive oil and cover with a bowl or clean kitchen towel. Allow to rise until it doubles in size, about 2 hours.
• Using oiled fingertips, gently press the dough out onto the sheet tray, making dimpled indentations all over the dough. Cover with a towel and allow to rise again for another 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Sprinkle the dough with the onions, olives and rosemary and drizzle generously with oil. Bake the focaccia until it is puffed and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Drizzle with additional olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt flakes before serving.

FOCACCIA WITH ROSEMARY AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• For the dough: Fill a small bowl with hot tap water. Let the water sit in the bowl for 2 minutes to warm the bowl, then dump it out. In the warmed bowl, combine the yeast, sugar, 1 tablespoon of the flour and 1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees F). Let stand about 5 minutes. (The mixture will be creamy and slightly bubbly; if it isn't, start over with new yeast.)
• In a large bowl, mix together the kosher salt and remaining 2 1/2 cups flour. Make a well in the center and stir in the yeast mixture, olive oil and 3/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees F) with a wooden spoon. Mix until the dough starts to come away from the sides of the bowl (it will be sticky). If the dough looks dry, add an additional 2 tablespoons warm water. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead with floured hands until soft and elastic, about 8 minutes. Form into a ball. (If using a stand mixer, mix on medium speed until soft and elastic, 4 to 7 minutes.) Brush another large bowl with olive oil. Add the dough and roll to coat with the oil. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Stretch the dough into the prepared baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• For the topping: Use your fingertips to dimple the dough. Brush with the oil, top with the sun-dried tomatoes and rosemary and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
• Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Remove from the baking dish and allow to cool slightly before slicing into squares. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and more flaky sea salt.

ROSEMARY FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water. Let stand for a few minutes.
• In a mixer, combine the flour and salt. With the mixer running on low speed (with the paddle attachment), drizzle in the olive oil until combined with the flour. Next, pour in yeast/water mixture and mix until just combined and the dough comes together in a very sticky mass.
• Form the dough into a ball, drizzle over olive oil and toss to coat the dough. Then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and set it aside for 1 to 2 hours, or store in the fridge until you need it.
• To make focaccia, remove half the dough from the bowl (leave the rest for another time) and place on a lightly floured surface. Place the chopped rosemary on top of the dough, then very gently knead it into the dough. (Don't over knead!) Roll into a large, thin oval. Place on a sheet pan drizzled with olive oil. Drizzle more olive oil on top of the dough, then cover with plastic wrap. Put in a draft-free/warm place for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Remove the plastic wrap (the dough will be puffy) and use your fingertips to press dimples all over the surface of the dough. Drizzle the surface with more olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake until the focaccia is golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Cut into pieces with a pizza wheel or sharp knife. Serve immediately.

ROSEMARY ONION FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Mix the water, yeast, oil and semolina in a large mixing bowl and stir to blend. Add the flour once cup at a time, stirring well with a wooden spoon after each addition. Once the dough becomes too difficult to mix by hand, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and add the salt. Continue to knead until all the flour has been worked in (you may not need the final ½ cup of flour) and the dough develops and smooth and elastic consistency, about 10 minutes. Place the dough in a large, oiled bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise until doubled in size, about 90 minutes.
• Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured surface again and divide it in half. Roll out each piece of dough into a rectangle 10-x-15-inches in size. Line 2 baking trays of this size (or a little larger) with parchment paper, and sprinkle each with a little semolina. Lift the rolled doughs onto each pan and cover the trays with a tea towel and let rise for 45 minutes.
• Remove the tea towels, and use your fingertips to gently "dimple" the dough, cover and let rise another 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 F. Toss the red onion, rosemary and olive oil to coat. Remove the tea towels from the dough and sprinkle the onions evenly over the dough, trying to coat as much of the dough with the olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt. Bake the focaccia for about 25 minutes until a rich golden brown colour. Carefully remove the focaccia from the trays to cool (to prevent the bottom of the bread from going soft) and cool to room temperature before slicing.
• The focaccia will keep for a day, or can be frozen up to 2 months.

THE BEST ROSEMARY FOCACCIA BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup of the warm water, and let sit 10 minutes until bubbly.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, Ts. of salt, yeast mixture and remaining water.
• Mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon and then your hands.
• Transfer to a floured work surface and knead by hand for a few minutes or until smooth.
• Place in a well oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Punch down and place on an oiled baking sheet, forming into an oval or circle.
• Dimple the top surface with your finger tips, and then drizzle with the oil and sprinkle with coarse salt and rosemary.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Bake about 20 minutes or until golden.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Variations: Instead of the rosemary, you might add 2-3 tablespoons of fresh chopped sage to the dough with some Fresh Parmesan on top.
• Other alternatives are sliced olives, thinly sliced zucchini or thinly sliced onions.
• Such cheeses as grated Parmesan, Mozzarella, or Fontina are also good.

COARSE SALT AND ROSEMARY FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Combine the yeast and warm water in a bowl, add 3 tablespoons olive oil to the water and let soak for 5 minutes. Mix the flour, 1 tablespoon salt and half the rosemary together in a bowl. Using a wooden spoon, pour the water yeast mixture into the flour and stir together to form a well mixed dough. Scrap the dough out onto a floured work surface and begin to work the dough with the heel of your hands, pulling and folding the dough as you push and pull.
• Work the dough for 10 minutes, put the dough into a lightly oiled bowl and then let rise at room temperature for 1 1/2 hours. Lightly oil a cookie sheet pan, spread the dough out in the pan and pull the dough evenly into the corners. Let the dough rise again for 1 hour more. Poke the surface of the dough with the tip of a your finger and drizzle the remaining olive oil over the surface of the dough, sprinkle with the coarse salt and remaining rosemary and bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes. Check the bottom of the focaccia to ensure it is not burning and bake an additional 5 minutes.

ROSEMARY FOCACCIA BREAD

Steps:

• Add warm water (about 110°F, which you can measure with a thermometer if you want to be sure it's the right temp) and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough attachment, and stir to combine. Sprinkle the yeast on top of the water. Give the yeast a quick stir to mix it in with the water. Then let it sit for 5-10 minute until the yeast is foamy.
• (See alterate instructions below to knead by hand.) Set the mixer to low speed, and add gradually flour, olive oil and salt. Increase speed to medium-low, and continue mixing the dough for 5 minutes. (If the dough is too sticky and isn't pulling away from the sides of the bowl, add in an extra 1/4 cup flour while it is mixing.)
• Remove dough from the mixing bowl, and use your hands to shape it into a ball. Grease the mixing bowl (or a separate bowl) with olive oil or cooking spray, then place the dough ball back in the bowl and cover it with a damp towel. Place in a warm location (I set mine by a sunny window) and let the dough rise for 45-60 minutes, or until it has nearly doubled in size.
• Turn the dough onto a floured surface, and roll it out into a large circle or rectangle until that the dough is about 1/2-inch thick*. Cover the dough again with the damp towel, and let the dough continue to rise for another 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Transfer the dough to a large parchment-covered baking sheet (or press it into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish). Use your fingers to poke deep dents (seriously, poke all the way down to the baking sheet!) all over the surface of the dough. Drizzle a tablespoon or two of olive oil evenly all over the top of the dough, and sprinkle evenly with the fresh rosemary needles and sea salt.
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until the dough is slightly golden and cooked through.
• Remove from the oven, and drizzle with a little more olive oil if desired. Slice, and serve warm.

RED ONION & ROSEMARY FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Make the basic dough, adding 2 tbsp olive oil and only a pinch of salt. While the dough is rising, cook onions in 1 tbsp olive oil for 5 mins until soft, then set aside.
• When the dough has risen, knock it back and stretch it to fit an oiled Swiss roll tin about 25 x 35cm. Leave the dough to prove for about 20 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Spread the onions over the dough and scatter with the rosemary. Press your fingers into the dough to make dimples, drizzle the remaining oil over and scatter over the salt, then bake for 30 mins until golden. Leave to cool, then serve cut or torn into squares.