Focaccia

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Focaccia

Focaccia (pronounced foh-kaht-tchah) is a flat oven-baked Italian breadsimilar in style and texture to pizza. It is often described as a flat bread, or Italian flat bread that is flavoured with olive oil and sometimes topped with herbs and/or vegetables.

Focaccia in my own words, a thick pizza bread seasoned with herbs and/or vegetables. Saying that it can easily resemble a pizza depending on the toppings one chooses. In Italy one can find focaccia breads that vary greatly with different thickness, toppings, and texture.

Focaccia is meant to be simple, but recipes always make it sound much more elaborate than it really is. I have done lots of research on perfect focaccia over the years and I find there are 3 key things while making the focaccia.

The dough is quite similar to pizza dough and needs moist dough with ideally a minimum of 70% hydration. Another crucial step is to be extremely generous with the olive oil. Pretty much every step of focaccia making involves olive oil. Olive oil should be in the dough, used to grease the baking sheet, and the bread is brined before it goes in the oven. Lastly one needs to be uber patient and let it rest a long time (8-24 hours after the initial kneading) so the flavour can develop. This crucial step will allow for adequate fermentation, which in turn will guarantee superior (non-yeasty) flavour.

The proofing for 8-24 hours although helps in developing the flavours, sometimes I just fancy a home baked focaccia and do not have so much time in hand and hence try and proof as long as I can.

I do not like to overload the focaccia with toppings, might as well eat a pizza then. My recipe is of a delicious focaccia with some coarse salt and herbs. It is perfectly soft and fluffy and satisfyingly chewy. It is sprinkled with lots of herbs and crunchy flaky sea salt. If you fancy extra luxury then drizzle the focaccia with extra olive oil just before serving, which soaks perfectly into all of those little classic holes that you have poked in the bread.

Ingredients

1 cup (225ml) lukewarm water
1 teaspoon dried yeast
2½ cups plain flour (or more as needed to form the dough)
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil

For Finishing the Focaccia
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon dried herbs

Directions

Step-1

In the bowl mix the water, yeast and honey. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes until frothy. Add the oil.

Step-2

Add the olive oil and one cup of the flour and mix to make a smooth paste. Then add the salt and the rest of the flour. Continue mixing until you have an elastic and just slightly sticky ball of dough. You may need to add in a little bit more flour, but the key is to remember that the dough should be slightly sticky and hydrated.

Step-3

Grease a large bowl and gently scrape the dough into it. Turn the dough to coat it in oil. Cover the bowl and a let the dough rise at room temperature until doubled for 1-2 hours.

Step-4

Line a baking tray with baking parchment and drizzle a good pour of olive oil on a parchment. Then scoop the dough onto the parchment. Flatten the dough out into a roughly rectangular shape with your hands, until it thinly and evenly covers the entire surface of the baking tray.

Cover the dough again and let it rest in a warm place for 2-3 hours to rise (or overnight in the fridge if you have the time and patience).

Step-5

Preheat oven to 200C/ 180C Fan/Gas 6.

Mix the oil and water in a measuring cup and pour it over the dough. Spread it out over the surface of the dough with the palms of your hands. Now pressing the tips of your fingers, create little dimples all over the surface of the dough. Sprinkle the dough with the coarse salt and dried herbs.

Step-6

Bake the focaccia in the pre-heated oven for 20-30 minutes, until the focaccia is golden brown on top.

Let the focaccia cool for couple of minutes before serving.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Tips & Variations

I prefer using honey while making the dough as it gives a delicious flavour to the focaccia. Sugar works fine too.
Rising times may vary according to the weather. When temperature is cooler, the initial rise may take 3 hours rather than 2, in warmer weather, you may find 90 minutes sufficient. Of course, you can always let the dough go a bit longer if you like, as it only helps to develop taste.
You will want to see the dough rather nicely puffed up, after the second rise. The risen dough helps in making deeper dimples, which lets the oil and water mixture to puddle, giving the focaccia its characteristic look and taste.
While making the holes the pressure must be marked (without breaking the dough, however) and as much as possible parallel to the surface. Make lots of holes and close to each other.
The secret of focaccia is the emulsion of oil, water and salt that you spread abundantly on the surface before baking. Do not worry if it seems a lot, it evaporates during baking and allow the holes to remain during cooking.
Oil plays an especially important role in the focaccia as it provides crispness and flavour to the finished crust. Oil also helps in enhancing the volume of the dough. I prefer using the best quality of olive oil while making the focaccia as it provides a pronounced and distinctive flavour to the finished crust. I have also used avocado oil or garlic olive oil and they taste great too! You can add vegetable oil, but it will taste bland and impart little, if any, flavour to the finished crust.
I often use different toppings for focaccia- fresh rosemary leaves, thinly sliced red onions moistened with a drizzle of olive oil, olives, cherry tomatoes, red grapes are some of my favourite toppings.