Foccacia

Homemade foccacia is so much nicer than most supermarket or even bakery foccacia.  Serve it hot from the oven with dips or cheese.  There won't be any left ....

Total Time:

1 hr 50 min

Prep:

1 hr 30 min

Cook:

20 min

Ingredients

2 teaspoons rapid-rising dry yeast

1 cup warm water

2 tablespoons sugar

3 1/2 to 4 cups flour

1 tablespoon coarse salt

1/4 cup olive oil

Toppings:

2 tablespoons olive oil

10 Kalamata olives, pitted and quartered

1 tsp coarse salt

2 tblsp fresh rosemary

or

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan

1 tsp coarse salt

Freshly ground black pepper

basil leaves

Directions

Proof the yeast by combining it with the warm water and sugar in a bowl. Stir it gently to dissolve. Let it stand 3 minutes until foam appears. If you are lucky enough to have a mixer with a dough hook, add to the mixer bowl and turn mixer on low and slowly add the flour to the bowl. Dissolve salt in 2 tablespoons of water and add it to the mixture. Pour in 1/4 cup olive oil. When the dough starts to come together, increase the speed to medium. Stop the machine periodically to scrape the dough off the hook. Mix until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, adding flour as necessary.  

Otherwise after the yeast and sugar have started to foam mix all your ingredients together in the bowl until they are the right consistency and knead for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic (very therapeutic!)

Form the dough into a round and place in an oiled bowl, turn to coat the entire ball with oil so it doesn't form a skin. Cover with plastic wrap or damp towel and let rise over a gas pilot light on the stovetop or other warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

Coat a large, flat baking dish with a little olive oil or line with baking paper. Once the dough is doubled in size, turn it out onto the counter. Roll and stretch the dough out to an oblong shape about 1/2-inch thick. Lay the flattened dough on the baking dish and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rest for about 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees c. Uncover the dough and dimple it with your fingers. Brush the surface with olive oil and then add toppings. Bake on the bottom rack for 15 to 20 minutes.