Friday, February 29, 2008

Focaccia

Focaccia

I had a few oregano sprigs left from this dish and did not want them to go to waste. Add to that the fact that I love baking bread and hadn’t baked any in ages. So there you have it: my first focaccia!

This dough is great to work with and I really liked the result – the focaccia smelled wonderful while in the oven and waiting for it to cool down a little was pure torture… 5 minutes (yes, I could not wait for longer) that seemed like 50. :)

I was browsing my favorite food blogs while translating the recipe to Portuguese and saw that Eva and Xiao Zhu had made beautiful focaccias, too. I love these delicious blogging coincidences!

Focaccia

Focaccia
adapted from Williams-Sonoma Collection: Bread

- metric and imperial measurements found in the book

1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 ½ cups (12fl oz/375ml) warm water (40 to 45ºC/105 to 115ºF)
½ cup (4fl oz/125ml) olive oil, plus more for greasing
1 ½ teaspoons table salt
4 to 4 ¼ cups (20-21 ½ oz/625-670g) flour plus more if needed – I used 630g total
3-4 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves
freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the flat beater, sprinkle the yeast and a pinch of the sugar over ½ cup (4fl oz/125ml) of the water and stir to dissolve. Let stand at room temperature until foamy, about 10 minutes.

Add the remaining 1 cup (8fl oz/250ml) water and the remaining sugar, ¼ cup (2fl oz/60ml) of the olive oil, the table salt and 1 cup (5oz/155g) of the flour. Beat on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add 1 cup (5oz/155g) of the flour, reduce the speed to medium-low and beat for 2 minutes.

Switch to the dough hook. On low speed, beat in the remaining flour, ½ cup (2 ½ oz/75g) at a time, until a soft, shaggy dough forms that starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Knead on low speed, adding flour 1 tablespoon at a time if the dough sticks, until moist, soft and slightly sticky, about 6 minutes. Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.

Line a heavy rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and brush the paper lightly with olive oil. Turn the dough out onto the prepared sheet. With oiled fingers, press and flatten the dough into an oval 2.5cm/1 inch thick. Cover loosely with oiled plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. It will be at least 2 inches thick.

With your fingertips, make deep indentations 2.5cm/1 inch apart all over the surface of the dough, almost to the bottom of the pan. Drizzle with the remaining ¼ cup (2fl oz/60ml) olive oil*. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Place a baking stone on the bottom rack of an oven and preheat to 220ºC/425ºF – I don’t have a baking stone, so I used the loosen bottom of a very large square cake pan (40cm/15in); that’s how I bake my Saturday night pizzas.

Sprinkle the bread with the oregano leaves, pepper and parmesan. Place the pan on the stone and bake until the bread is lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Check the bottom and, if the bread is pale, bake for a few minutes more. Slide the bread onto a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into squares or wedges.

* I used only half this amount

Makes 1 large oval focaccia.

Focaccia

47 comments:

Ginny said...

Yummy! It looks so good! A perfect way to use leftover herbs!

Unknown said...

I LOVE Focaccia and it's something I've been wanting to make for awhile. This recipe looks great - you've inspired me!

Peter M said...

Pat, let's pour the olive oil and get dippin' in!

Dharm said...

Hi Pat! I havent visited you in a while.. Are you no longer taking part in the Daring Bakers?? Your Focaccia looks just divine! Hope you are well!

Susan @ SGCC said...

Your focaccia looks gorgeous! I can't believe it's your first. Very well done!

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Focaccia is just so glorious! I can never have enough. Focaccia sandwich hot from the grill . . .

priscilla joy said...

Patricia that looks delicious! I can taste it...yummy!*smile*

priscilla joy said...

Patricia that looks delicious! I can taste it...yummy!*smile*

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Your focaccia looks perfect! I can almost smell how amazing it is with your beautiful pictures. Good job!

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Last night, to accompany a pot of soup, I bought a beautiful foccacia with sun dried tomatoes, caramelized onions and fresh basil leaves. Made me want to make my own, with the slow-roasted tomatoes I made and froze last summer!

Elle said...

ooooh, that looks divine! We just love focaccia. I made it once, but it was AGES ago, hehe. I think I need to make another one.

Anonymous said...

I think focaccia bread has to be my favorite bread of all time. Yours looks very good! Well done!

Deborah said...

Your focaccia looks absolutely perfect!! Now I'm craving some carbs!

Sarah said...

I love focaccia and have been looking for a great recipe since the one's I've used haven't been perfect. Cannot wait to give this one a go!

Anonymous said...

Nothing like a loaf of fresh focaccia and you've done a wonderful job Patricia.

Meeta K. Wolff said...

After Tanna challenged us to make focaccia it's been a regular. I do however love your wonderful flavors. Lovely!

Emily said...

I think everyone loves focaccia, don't they? I love it so much. Dipped in olive oil with cracked pepper. Do you do that?
This looks bright and airy.

Anonymous said...

This looks just delicious!

lululu said...

As a huge fan of focaccia, I just didn't realized home-made one can look that good. Will absolutely try it!!!

LyB said...

I love making focaccia with soups or stews, it smells so good while baking! Yours looks positively delicious, gorgeous photos!

test it comm said...

Nice looking focaccia! It is nice and golden brown and the cheese...

Stella said...

What a lovely focaccia Pat! I so want a slice!! It really really really looks good..:)

Anonymous said...

Delicious looking focaccia! Hmmm...must get to this soon :)

Anonymous said...

Mmmmm... that's some beautiful bread!

I've never made focaccia. It might be time. :)

aforkfulofspaghetti said...

I haven't made focaccia in SOOOOO long! But your pics and the recipe are making me think that I need to put that right, and fast! Yours looks superb - I'd love to get my teeth into it....

Kelly-Jane said...

Your focaccia looks wonderful, the oregano is a yummy addition.

Patricia Scarpin said...

Ginny, thank you for stopping by!

Christine, I hope you bake one too!

Peter, that is a great idea, my friend. :)

Dharm, how great to see you here!

Hi sweetie! It's my first but certainly it won't be my last! :)

Tanna, I'm hungry just by reading your comment. :)

Priscilla, tks, sweetie!

Lynn, thank you, my dear friend!

Lydia, I think I'll add those ingredients you mention next time I make focaccia.

Elle, make another one! :)

Chuck, tks for visiting! I'm glad you like it.

Deb, I love carbs, dear. :)

Sarah, this recipe worked really well!

Peter, thank you!

Meeta, it will be a regular at my home too, from now on!

Emiline, I pour olive oil in a bowl (I place basil leaves inside the olive oil jars and keep them for weeks. It's great!) and sprinkle with sea salt. Then we dip the bread. I'll add pepper, too, like you say!

Gretchen, thank you!!

Lu, do try it!

LyB, tks, darling!

Kevin, the cheese added a nice touch to it.

Valentina, tks, dear!

Joey, you definitely must.

Michelle, go ahead and bake one, sweetie!

Hi there! I hope you bake one and post it about, too. I'll be hungry when I see it, that's for sure. :)

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

This bread would have been wonderful last night with my potatoes and no name throw together dish to sop up the juices :D

Thistlemoon said...

Oh wow, I love Foccacia! Your looks so tender and perfect!

eatingplum said...

Wow, that's your first try? That's so impressive!!

pam said...

I love foccacia! It is my very favorite type of bread!

Julie said...

Nice job Patricia, your focaccia turned out beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Yum! Your first focaccia looks like it was a big success! Looks delicious. :)

Helene said...

Gorgeous! I love making focaccia sandwiches with tins of grilled veggies. Beautiful job!

Gigi said...

Your focaccia looks amazing! It looks so good ...I know what I'll be baking this weekend!

Anonymous said...

I love focaccia so much and i haven't made a batch forever. Maybe this is a sign i should get baking soon! :-)
Thanks for the inspiration. It looks awesome!

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

Beautiful results! The baking sheet makes it very easy, don't you think!

Anonymous said...

These look absolutely perfect! When can I order from your bakery? :)

Patricia Scarpin said...

Bellini, I can't wait to try it with soup!

Jenn, tks, dear!

Hi, Eating Plum! Tks for visiting!

Pam, I do love baking bread.

Julie, thank you!

Amy, I'll be making it again. :)

Helen, what a great idea!

Gigi, I hope you like it!

Zen Chef, you should bake it soon. :)

T.W., I love doing that with the baking sheet. It works wonders with pizza!

Joy, you are so sweet! :)

Susan from Food Blogga said...

I love absolutely everything about this, Patricia--the golden crust, the fresh herbs, and, well, can I have a bite, just so I can properly describe the flavor? :)

MPG said...

yummy yummy...i always wanted to make some :)

Anonymous said...

I'm writing from Madrid, Spain, because we just ate the last bit of this wonderful focaccia. My husband had never try it before, but is already begging me to make more! Thank you VERY much for posting it, and please know you make a difference in the way many of us eat, even in Spain :-)

Cheryl said...

Oh now you got me craving focaccia again. The last time I made something like this, we went nuts. Now I will have to try it again.

thecoffeesnob said...

Oh how i love focaccia. Yours looks fantastic, Pat!

Deeba PAB said...

Oooh I love focaccia & made it for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Looking at yours, I want to try this one immediately! Nothing can beat the luxury of having home-baked fresh bread...& the aroma wafting through the house is heavenly!

jue said...

tagged you in my blog.This focaccia is just great.

Patricia Scarpin said...

Jue, thank you!

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