Focaccia Garden
Soft and airy focaccia is infused with rich olive oil making this easy recipe a rustic and artisan style bread that you get to enjoy right out of the oven. Dress it up with herbs, flowers, or vegetables from the garden before baking to create your own focaccia garden.
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup warm water
- 1 package active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 tsp)
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 5 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for kneading
- 1 tbsp sea salt, plus additional for sprinkling
- 1 cup olive oil, divided
- Choice of vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers
Instructions
- 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 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.
- Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly floured surface, then knead it by hand 1 or 2 times. Again, give it another sprinkle or two of flour if the dough is really sticky.
- Coat the inside of the mixer bowl lightly with olive oil and return the dough to the bowl. Cover it with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and put it in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, at least 1 hour.
- Coat a medium sheet pan with the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil. Put the dough onto the sheet 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 all sides of the pan. Poke holes with your fingers. Cover with plastic wrap.
- 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 and get your vegetables, herbs, and flowers ready.
- Lightly drizzle a little oil on top of the focaccia and sprinkle the top with sea salt. Arrange the blank canvas of focaccia with your choice of vegetables, herbs, and flowers on top, gently pressing them into the dough. Bake the dough until the top of the loaf is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Remove the focaccia from the oven and let it cool before cutting and serving.
Notes
Variety of toppings you can use to create a garden landscape:
- Edible flowers – such as pansy, lavender, pea flower, daisy, chamomile, violet, viola, cornflower, marigold, squash flowers, etc..
- Bell peppers (large or mini) – thinly sliced
- Cherry tomatoes – whole or cut in half
- Large tomatoes – sliced (This is how I remember eating it in Rome)
- Olives – whole or cut in half
- Roasted garlic
- Asparagus – long stems
- Zucchini – thinly shaved and rolled into a bouquet
- Parsley
- Chives
- Rosemary
- Green onions
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Basil
- Sage
- Dill