Source: From Biba's Italian Kitchen. Biba Gaggiano
Makes 6 servings.
Preparation time: 3 hours
Tips:Serve warm out of the oven. Also makes a good pizza
Focaccia
Italian flat bread
Ingredients
Preparation
For FIRST rise:
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1/2 cup luke warm water, to dissolve yeast
1 cup unbleached flour
For SECOND rise:
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 cup lukewarm water, to dissolve yeast
2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1. FOR THE FIRST RISE: Put all the ingredients in a large bowl or in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, and mix well. Knead 6 to 7 minutes by hand, or 3 to 4 minutes by machine, until the dough is smooth and pliable. Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let it rise until doubled in volume, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
2. FOR THE SECOND RISE: Put all the ingredients, the dough from the first rise AND the spices: rosemary, basil and black pepper, OR your selected choice in a large bowl or in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, and mix well. Knead 4 to 5 minutes by machine, 8 to 10 minutes by hand. The dough should be smooth and elastic. If it is too sticky, work in some additional flour. (Dough is softer than french bread dough or pizza dough).
3. LIGHTLY oil a 15x12-inch baking sheet ( air tray O.K.) . Place the dough on the sheet and, with your fingers, starting from the center, push the dough out to fit the baking sheet, about a 10" -11" circle. Cover the dough loosely with plastic wrap and let it rise again until it has doubled in size, 40 to 45 minutes.
4. PREHEAT the oven to 400 degrees about 30 minutes before baking.
5. BRUSH the top of the dough lightly with olive oil and season with spices ( if desired). With your fingertips, make small indentations all over the dough.
6. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until the dough has a nice golden color. Cool 5 to 10 minutes, remove focaccia from the sheet, and place it on a cutting board. Serve warm with plenty of olive oil for dipping.
NOTES : 1) For sandwiches, slice horizontally fresh out from the oven.
2) Also makes excellent pizza: pre-bake dough for 5 minutes, remove from oven, place desire toppings and continue baking as directed. Dough will make 2 medium pizzas, if stretch thinner than plain Focaccia.
SPICES (may vary to desire taste):
2 teaspoons rosemary leaves, crumbled
1 teaspoon basil leaves, fresh, chopped
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper corns
