Tomato And Mushroom Focaccia Bites Food

FOCACCIA WITH FRESH TOMATOES

Steps:

• To make the sponge, place the yeast and water into a medium sized bowl, and stir to dissolve yeast. Add the flour and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon or your hands for 2 to 3 minutes, until smooth, and a somewhat elastic dough has formed. The starter will be thick and stretchy.
• Scrape the starter into a clear container with high sides and cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise.
• At this point you have two options. If you plan to make the dough later the same day, let the sponge rise at room temperature until it has risen to the point where it just begins to indent on top. This may take 6 to 8 hours. It will triple in volume and very small dents and folds will begin to appear in the top of the surface as it reaches its peak and begins to deflate. Make sure to use it before it sinks too much.
• If you are not planning to make the dough until the next day, let the sponge rise for 1 hour after mixing, then place it in the refrigerator and let it rise for at least 14 hours before taking it out to use. Be sure to compensate for the cold temperature of the starter by using warm water in the dough, or let it sit out, covered, until it reaches room temperature.
• To make the dough, place the yeast and water in a large bowl. Stir the yeast so it dissolves, and allow to stand for 1 minute.
• Add the sponge to the yeast mixture, and mix with your hands for 1 minute to break up the sponge. The mixture should be foamy. Add the flour and mix it in with your hands, lifting the wet mixture over the flour to incorporate it. Once the dough becomes a shaggy mass, knead in the bowl for 1 minute. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.
• Add the salt to the dough and knead briefly to incorporate. Gradually add the oil and milk, and knead gently until all the liquid has been incorporated.
• Move the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until it begins to become smooth, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. The dough will be sticky, so keep the work surface lightly floured.
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turn the dough to coat it, and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise until almost double in size, approximately 2 hours.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• When the dough has risen, loosen it from the bowl with lightly floured hands, and pour it onto a floured surface. Divide the dough into 9 equal pieces, about 5 1/4 ounces each. Shape the dough into balls and place on the baking sheet approximately 4 inches apart. Brush each piece with olive oil, and press down gently so the bread is more like a disk than a roll. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 1/2 hours, or until the dough has almost doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Toss the slices of tomatoes in a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the tomatoes in a decorative fashion on the dough. With your finger tips, press down on the dough in a few places, making impressions where olive oil can gather. Lightly brush the dough with olive oil, allowing it to pool in the dimples. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
• Place the baking sheet in the oven, mist the loaves with water from a spray bottle, shut the oven door, and continue to bake. Mist again one minute later.
• Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees F, and bake for 15 to 25 minutes longer, or until golden brown and crusty.
• Remove the focaccia from the oven immediately, brush with olive oil, and sprinkle with fresh herbs such as basil if desired. Let cool on a cooling rack.

TOMATO AND MUSHROOM FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In 8-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Drain if necessary.
• On ungreased cookie sheet, place bread. Sprinkle 3/4 cup of the cheese on bread. Top with mushrooms and tomatoes. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bread is hot. Sprinkle with basil.

TOMATO AND MUSHROOM FOCACCIA BITES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F. In a large pan set over medium high heat, saute the mushrooms in olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes, or until tender. Drain off any liquid remaining in the pan.
• In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the cooked mushrooms with drained tomatoes and chopped artichoke hearts.
• Arrange the bread slices on an ungreased baking sheet, sprinkle the bread with 3/4 cup of the cheese. with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Sprinkle with basil just before serving.

FOCACCIA WITH TOMATOES AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• In the bowl of a standing mixer, or in a large bowl, dissolve the yeast and sugar in the water. Add the olive oil, whole-wheat flour, 200 grams of the all-purpose flour and salt and mix together briefly using the paddle attachment. Change to the dough hook and beat for 8 to 10 minutes at medium speed, adding flour as necessary. The dough should eventually form a ball around the dough hook and slap against the sides of the bowl as the mixer turns; it will be sticky. Remove from the bowl, flour your hands and knead for a minute on a lightly floured surface, and shape into a ball.
• If kneading the dough by hand, dissolve the yeast in the water with the sugar as directed. Stir in the olive oil, whole-wheat flour, salt and all-purpose flour by the half-cup, until the dough can be scraped out onto a floured work surface. Knead, adding flour as necessary, for 10 minutes, until the dough is elastic and smooth. Shape into a ball.
• Clean and dry your bowl and oil lightly with olive oil. Place the dough in it, rounded side down first, then rounded side up. Cover tightly with plastic and let rise in a warm spot for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or in the refrigerator for 4 to 8 hours, until doubled.
• Punch down the dough. Cover with lightly oiled plastic and let the dough rest for 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees, preferably with a baking stone in it. Line a sheet pan with parchment and oil generously. Roll or press out the dough into a rectangle the size of the sheet pan or just slightly smaller. To do this efficiently, roll or press out the dough, stop and wait 5 minutes for the gluten to relax, then roll or press out again, and repeat until the dough reaches the right size. Cover with a damp towel and let rest for 30 minutes. Just before baking, use your fingertips to dimple the dough all over.
• Cut the tomatoes into rounds and place on top of the focaccia. Sprinkle with coarse salt and the rosemary. Drizzle a tablespoon or two of olive oil over all.
• Bake, setting the pan on top of the baking stone (if using), for 20 to 25 minutes, until the bread is deep golden brown. Let rest for at least 10 minutes before serving, or allow to cool completely.

CRISPY MUSHROOM FOCACCIA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir the flour, yeast, salt, water and oil together until well combined. The ingredients should come together easily to form a wet dough, about 2 minutes. Cover the bowl and let rise at room temperature for at least 8 hours and no more than 10 hours. (You can refrigerate at this point for up to 18 hours, then allow to come to room temperature before stippling.)
• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Prepare the mushrooms: Use a paring knife to trim the mushrooms and cut them into medium-large pieces, leaving smaller mushrooms whole whenever possible because they will shrink when they roast. On a baking sheet, toss the mushrooms with 3 tablespoons olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• Spread the mushrooms in an even layer and roast until tender, 25 to 30 minutes. They should shrink a lot, but should only just begin to brown. Set aside to cool.
• When the dough has fully risen, pour 2 tablespoons olive oil onto a baking sheet and spread all over the baking sheet with your hands. Pour the risen dough onto the baking sheet, and use your fingers to spread and stipple the dough until about 1/2-inch thick. Don't worry if your dough doesn't stretch much at first; it will be easier after it rests. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and stipple again, but don't let it thin out too much. (It's more important that it remains the appropriate thickness, not that it fills the whole pan.) Arrange the cooled mushrooms in an even layer on top of the dough.
• Top the focaccia with a generous, even layer of grated Parmesan or flaky sea salt. Bake until the edges of the focaccia become golden brown and the mushrooms are very crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Squeeze the lemon over the surface of the focaccia. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving. Top with chives just before serving, if using.

MUSHROOM AND TOMATO BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet in a single layer.
• Broil bread slices until toasted, 1 to 2 minutes; watch carefully to prevent burning. Remove toasted slices and set aside on baking sheet.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir mushrooms, green onions, garlic, salt, black pepper, and parsley until mushrooms are softened and juicy, about 5 minutes. Set mixture aside. Mix diced tomatoes with balsamic vinegar in a bowl and set aside.
• Top each toasted bread slice with mushroom mixture and spread tomato mixture on top. Spread mozzarella cheese over each appetizer. Return to broiler until cheese has melted and bruschetta are hot, about 5 minutes.

FOCACCIA TOPPED WITH TOMATO & MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• In an 8" skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
• Cook mushrooms in oil until tender.
• Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute or less.
• Crain if necessary.
• Place bread on cookie sheet.
• Sprinkle 3/4 cup of cheese on bread.
• Top with mushrooms, garlic, and tomatoes.
• Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
• Bake 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bread is hot.
• Sprinkle with basil.