In the realm of baking, few things can rival the allure of a golden, pillowy focaccia. Its crispy crust, airy crumb, and versatility make it a beloved favorite, enjoyed across cultures and cuisines. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice just starting out, achieving focaccia perfection can seem like an elusive art. However, with the right recipe and a few simple techniques, you can create a foolproof focaccia that will impress even the most discerning palates. Join us on a culinary journey as we explore the secrets to crafting the perfect focaccia, transforming your kitchen into a bakery haven.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
FOCACCIA
Focaccia is one of my favorite bread recipes. It's one of the least labor-intensive since there isn't any kneading. The dough is very wet, which is perfect for a tender, yet chewy, bread with a very distinct salt bite. -James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 45m
Yield 2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2-cup warm water and honey; let stand for 5 minutes. Add flour, 1/4 cup oil, salt and remaining 3/4-cup water; mixing until smooth (dough will be wet). Scrape the sides of the bowl clean; cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes., Preheat oven to 425°. Brush a 13x9-in. baking pan with 1 tablespoon oil. Gently scrape dough directly into pan. With oiled hands, gently spread dough. If dough springs back, wait 10 minutes and stretch again. Make indentations in the dough with your fingers. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil; let rise until doubled in size, 30-40 minutes. , If desired, sprinkle with sea salt. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Cut into squares; serve warm.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 95 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 61mg sodium, Carbohydrate 13g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.
FOOLPROOF FOCACCIA
This "light as a feather" bread is spongy and full of air holes, not leaden like many focaccias. Try it with BLT, fresh basil, sprinkled with vinaigrette for a fabulous sandwich or a bacon/egg. This dough also can be used for deep dish pizza crust. Recipe from "Cook's Illustrated".
Provided by Roxygirl in Colorado
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 55m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- FOR THE DOUGH:.
- Boil potato in water and simmer until tender (about 25 minutes).
- Drain potato well and cool.
- Grate potato through large holes on box grater, fine disk on ricer or food processor.
- Reserve 1-1/3 cups lightly packed potato.
- Meanwhile, In food processor mix or pulse yeast, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/2 cup warm water until combined.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place, until bubbly (about 20 minutes).
- Add remaining dough ingredients (including the remaining 3 cups flour), including reserved potato.
- Process dough for about 40 seconds until it's smooth and elastic.
- Transfer dough to lightly oiled bowl, turn to coat with oil and cover tightly with plastic wrap.
- let rise in warm area until dough is puffy and doubled in volume (about an hour).
- With wet hands (to prevent sticking) press dough flat into oiled or sprayed with Pam 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 jelly roll pan (I sprinkle a little flour on top of dough and gently pat it into shape. I don't make it quite as large, since I like it really thick).
- Cover dough with lightly greased plastic wrap (dough will stick otherwise) and let rise in warm area, about 45 minutes to an hour, until dough is puffy and doubled.
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Adjust oven rack to lower middle position.
- With two wet fingers, dimple risen dough at regular intervals.
- TOPPING:.
- Drizzle dough with oil, and sprinkle evenly with the rosemary, salt, landing some in pools of oil.
- Bake until focaccia bottom is golden and crisp, 23-25 minutes.
- Yields: one 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 inch rectangle or 2 8 inch rounds.
- *Note: focaccia can be kept on counter for several hours and reheated just before serving.
- Or, wrap cooled focaccia in plastic wrap, and then foil and freeze for up to 1 month (unwrap and defrost in 325°F oven until soft, about 15 minutes).
- •VARIATIONS:.
- Parmesan Focaccia: substitute 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese for the rosemary and coarse sea salt.
- Focaccia with Black Olives and Thyme: substitute 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leave and 24 pitted large black olives (one per oil-filled dimple) for rosemary.
FOCACCIA
Provided by Anne Burrell
Categories side-dish
Time 3h5m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Combine the warm water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Put the bowl in a warm, not hot or cool, place until the yeast is bubbling and aromatic, at least 15 minutes.
- In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, 1/2 cup olive oil and the yeast mixture on low speed. Once the dough has come together, continue to knead for 5 to 6 minutes on a medium speed until it becomes smooth and soft. Give it a sprinkle of flour if the dough is really sticky and tacky.
- Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly floured surface, then knead it by hand 1 or 2 times. Again, give it another sprinkle of flour if the dough is really sticky and tacky.
- Coat the inside of the mixer bowl lightly with olive oil and return the dough to the bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and put it in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, at least 1 hour.
- Coat a jelly roll pan with the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil. (Chef's Note: This may seem excessive, but focaccia is an oily crusted bread. This is why it is soooooooooo delicious!).
- Put the dough onto the jelly roll pan and begin pressing it out to fit the size of the pan. Turn the dough over to coat the other side with the olive oil. Continue to stretch the dough to fit the pan. As you are doing so, spread your fingers out and make finger holes all the way through the dough. (Chef's Note: Yes, this is strange. But when the dough rises again it will create the characteristic craggy looking focaccia. If you do not make the actual holes in the dough, the finished product will be very smooth.)
- Put the dough in the warm place until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour. While the dough is rising a second time, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Liberally sprinkle the top of the focaccia with some coarse sea salt and lightly drizzle a little oil on top. Bake the dough until the top of the loaf is golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the focaccia from the oven and let it cool before cutting and serving.
- Oh baby!
DELICIOUSLY EASY GARLIC HERB FOCACCIA
Make focaccia in an hour. Or a little longer if your bread machine doesn't have a pizza cycle. Also great as a pizza dough! I personally use 2 cups unbleached bread flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour. As with most recipes I have created - they are a base on which to build.
Provided by Amy Beth McMaster
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes Flat Bread Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Place 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon olive oil, bread flour, white sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and active dry yeast, respectively, in the pan of a bread machine. Select pizza cycle; press Start.
- Combine crushed garlic and 1/3 cup olive oil in a small bowl. Set aside to let it steep, about 30 minutes.
- Combine Parmesan cheese, parsley, onion powder, and herbes de Provence in another small bowl.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease a large rimmed baking sheet with olive oil.
- Deflate dough and turn out into the baking sheet. Stretch dough gently out to 1/2-inch thickness, using your fingers to make dimples that will hold the toppings.
- Pour garlic and oil mixture onto dough and spread it evenly over the dough and edges with your hands. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese mixture evenly on top. Sprinkle dough with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer from the baking sheet to a rack. Let cool, 5 minutes. Cut into squares with a pizza cutter.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 224.5 calories, Carbohydrate 26.3 g, Cholesterol 5.9 mg, Fat 9.9 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 7 g, SaturatedFat 2.3 g, Sodium 310.8 mg, Sugar 0.6 g
EASIEST FOCACCIA RECIPE
Extremely easy, fast and cheap. Great for sandwiches and snacks. You may use more or less olive oil or salt if you wish.
Provided by MORTICIA_ADDAMS
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes Flat Bread Recipes
Time 50m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a small bowl, dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with flour; stir well to combine. Stir in additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until all of the flour is absorbed. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly for about 1 minute.
- Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
- Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface; knead briefly. Pat or roll the dough into a sheet and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush the dough with oil and sprinkle with salt.
- Bake focaccia in preheated oven for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on desired crispness. If you like it moist and fluffy, then you'll have to wait just about 10 minutes. If you like it crunchier and darker in the outside, you may have to wait 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 296.4 calories, Carbohydrate 49.4 g, Fat 7.4 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 7.1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 147.6 mg, Sugar 1.2 g
Tips:
- Use a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook to make the dough. This will save you time and energy, and ensure that the dough is properly mixed.
- If you don't have a stand mixer, you can make the dough by hand. Just be sure to knead it for at least 10 minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place for at least 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size. This will give the yeast time to work and produce carbon dioxide gas, which will create air pockets in the dough and make it light and airy.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit before baking the focaccia. This will help to create a crispy crust.
- Bake the focaccia for 20-25 minutes, or until it is golden brown on top. Keep an eye on it so that it doesn't overcook.
- Let the focaccia cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. This will help to prevent it from falling apart.
Conclusion:
Focaccia is a delicious and versatile bread that can be enjoyed on its own, or used as a sandwich bread or appetizer. It is easy to make, and the results are always impressive. With a little practice, you can make focaccia that is perfect for any occasion.
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