Focaccia
Focaccia is one of the most satisfying things to bake, and there is something special about eating bread that you’ve baked yourself!
This will give you a good focaccia base recipe that you can make your own, I love to change it up when making focaccia! Sometimes I will do a plain rosemary & sea salt flakes, or you could do Sicilian olives or even little Roast Cherry Tomatoes!
Baking a focaccia requires time, so when you are planning to make these make sure you read through the recipe and allow enough time for it to rise!
The waiting time is worth it once you have a beautiful focaccia!
I love to make these if I am going on a picnic with friends, or having people over for dinner to serve as an appetiser with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar!
I use my Kitchen Aid stand mixer to make this recipe as it kneads for me, but if you do not have one you can knead by hand!
For a full video, head to my Instagram highlights!
Prep Time: 20 min + 4 hours resting time
Cooking Time: 25 mins
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
400g oo Italian flour
1 TSP caster sugar
1 TSP instant yeast
1 & 1/4 cup warm water
1 TSP sea salt flakes
1 TBS olive oil
Toppings: Sicilian olives, Rosemary, Sea Salt Flakes, Cherry Tomatoes, Confit Garlic
Method:
In a bowl, combine the yeast, sugar and warm water and let the yeast activate for 5 minutes
In another bowl (if you have a stand-mixer bowl, use that) combine the flour an salt
Add the yeast mixture and the olive oil and mix until combined
If using a stand mixer, add the kneading hook on and knead for 15 minutes.
If kneading by hand, place on a floured surface and knead for 10-15 minutes
Transfer the dough to a well-oiled bowl and lightly oil the top of the dough.
Cover with cling wrap and then a tea towel and leave it to rise for 3 hours. Leaving it in a warm spot helps it rise! In winter, if the house is cold I like to turn the oven on and leave it near the oven to rise
Line a baking tray with baking paper
With oiled hands, lightly stretch the dough into the baking tray. Let it rest for 10 mins
Repeat stretching until it fits into the tray and then cover with a tea towel and rest for 1 hour
Preheat oven to 200c
Drizzle olive oil over the focaccia and poke your fingers into it to create the “dimples”
Place your toppings of choice on and sea salt flakes
Bake for 25 mins until golden
Serve warm & enjoy!