Stuffed Focaccia Food

STUFFED FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Put the flour and 5g 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, leave for a few minutes, then gradually pour it into the well, stirring and bringing in the flour from the outside to form a dough. Knead on a flour-dusted surface for 10 minutes, or until smooth and springy. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean damp tea towel and prove in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size. Meanwhile, pod the broad beans into a bowl, pinching the skins off any larger ones. Peel the garlic, finely chop with the top leafy half of the parsley and add to the bowl with 75ml of extra virgin olive oil. Finely grate in the pecorino and lemon zest, squeeze in the juice, season, mix together, then put aside.
• Lightly oil a deep baking tray (30cm x 40cm), and dust evenly with the breadcrumbs. Pound the dough a few times with your fist, then roll or stretch it out to 30cm x 80cm. Drape half the dough into the tray, leaving the rest overhanging. Pour over the broad bean mixture in an even layer, keeping some of the oil behind. Fold the overhanging dough over the top, drizzle with the reserved oil, then use your fingers to gently push down and, importantly, create lots of dips and wells in the dough. Cover with a clean damp tea towel and leave to prove until doubled in size again.
• Preheat the oven to 220ºC/425ºF/gas 7. Sprinkle the dough with sea salt, then bake for 25 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Let it cool on a board, then slice up and tuck in. Absolute heaven.

FOCACCIA POCKETS

Steps:

• Stir the yeast and sugar into 1 3/4 cups warm water (about 100 degrees F) in the measuring cup or a small bowl. Let sit until foamy, about 3 minutes.
• Combine the flour and kosher salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the yeast mixture and 1/4 cup of the olive oil and mix on low speed just until the dough comes together. Switch to the dough hook and knead the dough, adding more flour or water 1 tablespoon at a time if needed, until the dough forms a loose ball that just pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Knead on high speed until the dough is smooth and elastic but still a bit looser than traditional bread dough, about 5 minutes.
• Coat a large bowl with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the dough and turn to coat. Cover and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Coat a rimmed baking sheet with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Transfer the dough to the middle of the baking sheet. Gently stretch the dough all the way to edges of the baking sheet. If the dough springs back, let it rest for a few minutes and continue stretching. (Don't rush it; this process could take up to 10 to 15 minutes.)
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Use a pizza wheel to cut the dough lengthwise in half through the center, then make crosswise cuts to get 8 rectangles. Divide the pepperoni among the rectangles, placing it on the lower half of each rectangle and leaving a border around the edges. Dollop the ricotta on top of the pepperoni and spread with the back of a spoon, again leaving a border around the edges. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and pecorino, leaving the border free.
• Fold the top of each dough rectangle over the filling and press the edges to seal. Use a large spatula to help transfer the pockets to the prepared baking sheets. Flatten each pocket slightly with the palm of your hand. Trim the edges with a pizza wheel, if desired. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Remove the plastic wrap from the pockets and use the tips of your fingers to gently dimple the dough all over. Brush lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with additional pecorino, the rosemary needles and flaky salt. Bake, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until the pockets are golden brown on the tops and bottoms, about 20 minutes. Serve warm with marinara sauce.

STUFFED FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Thaw dough.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Divide the dough into two.
• On a floured surface, either pat down or roll into two 10-11 inch circles.
• Place one circle on an oiled cookie sheet, and then sprinkle the cheese evenly over its surface.
• Spread the spinach across the top, and then cover with the remaining circle.
• Using your fingertips, gently press the edges together.
• Create dimples across the top surface using your fingertips, and drizzle over with the oil. Sprinkle the salt and rosemary on top.
• Bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Serve warm.
• Variation: Try stuffing the focaccia with thinly sliced tomatoes and basil leaves, shredded cooked ham and Fontina cheese, or simply a mixture of your favorite Italian cheeses.

SPINACH AND FETA-STUFFED FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add onion and garlic; sauté 1 minute.
• Add half of spinach; cook 1 minute or until spinach wilts.
• Add remaining spinach; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until spinach wilts.
• Remove from heat; stir in feta and next 6 ingredients (through pepper).
• Place dough on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; pat dough into a 15 x 12-inch rectangle.
• Spread spinach mixture lengthwise over half of dough, leaving a 1-inch border.
• Fold other half of dough over filling; press edges together with a fork.
• Cut 5 (1-inch) diagonal slits in top of dough.
• Combine milk and water; brush evenly over dough.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan.
• Bake at 450° for 15 minutes or until golden.

BREAD MACHINE STUFFED ROSEMARY FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in the machine in the order according to the manufacturer's instructions and program for "manual" or "dough", and press "start". Add just enough extra water, if necessary, to make a soft, slightly tacky dough. At the end of the final knead, remove the dough from the machine to a lightly floured work space.
• Knead the dough several times, adding just enough flour to keep it from sticking to the surface.
• Cover it with a clean cloth while you prepare the filling.
• TO FINISH THE FOCACCIA.
• Spray a 9- or 10-inch springform pan with nonstick vegetable spray or coat it lightly with vegetable oil.
• Cut the dough in half and stretch or roll one half in a circle large enough to fit the 9- or 10-inch bottom of the springform pan, and place it in the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Sprinkle the tomatoes, the olives, and pinches of the cream cheese (or crumbles of the goat cheese) over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border of dough around the circumference. Moisten the outer edge of the dough with water.
• Roll the remaining dough out to the same size as the first one and place it over the filling. Pinch the edges of the two doughs together to seal.
• Using the tip of a knife, carve three 1/2-inch vent strips in the top layer of dough.
• Cover the pan with plastic wrap and set it in warm place to rise for 30 minutes, or until doubled in bulk.
• Preheat the oven to 475°F with the rack positioned in the middle of the oven.
• Before placing the pan in the oven, using your fingertips, make indentations in the top of the dough. Drizzle on the tomato oil and sprinkle with the salt.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
• Release the springform sides and allow the focaccia to cool for 10 minutes before cutting.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.

STUFFED FOCACCIA OR PITA PIENA

Steps:

• Mix the flour, yeast, water and salt in a bowl and work until smooth and elastic.
• Move to a warm place and leave to rise until doubled.
• Place the risen dough on your counter and pull it open in the middle.
• Punch down and then add the lard, kneading until elastic and silky.
• Put back in the bowl and leave to rise again.
• Preheat the oven to 180 C or 350°F.
• Roll out half the dough to about 2 cm thick and use it to cover the base of a large oven dish, greased with lard.
• Scatter over the pork rind, egg, sausage and pecorino.
• Roll out the rest of the dough to the same size and lay on top.
• Bind the two with half the beaten egg.
• Prick with a fork and brush on the remaining egg.
• Bake for about 30 minutes until golden brown.