Focaccia

Ever wondered about the history of focaccia? Here’s what the internet says:

Focaccia bread has its origins in ancient Italy, tracing back to the time of the Etruscans and the Romans. The word “focaccia” is derived from the Latin word “focus,” meaning “hearth” or “fire,” which refers to the traditional method of cooking the bread on a hearthstone or in a wood-fired oven.

That works for me – although I don’t have a hearthstone or a wood-fired oven. I prepare the dough and spread it out on a quarter-sheet baking pan. Then I plunge my fingers into the dough and make indentations that hold olive oil, fresh rosemary and fresh thyme from my herb garden. Bake time is less than 30 minutes. 

I like to eat fresh-baked focaccia with a large salad dressed with espresso vinaigrette.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons active dry yeast

1½ cups warm water

4 cups all-purpose flour

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil (plus extra for topping)

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary (chopped for topping)

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (chopped for topping)

Flaky sea salt (for topping)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water and let sit for five minutes until it becomes frothy.
• Add flour, ¼ cup olive oil and kosher salt to the yeast mixture. Mix to combine. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 10 minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for one hour.
• Punch the dough down, transfer it to an oiled baking sheet and spread it out. Using your fingers, create dimples in the dough. Drizzle olive oil over the dough and sprinkle with rosemary, thyme and flaky sea salt.
• Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rest for 20 minutes. Bake for 25 minutes or until the focaccia is golden brown and crispy around the edges. Remove it from the oven, allow it to cool for 5 minutes, then slice and serve.
  

  

Chef Randy Graham, the healthy chef. Providing consistently good vegetarian comfort food recipes. Find his cookbooks on Amazon.