Focaccia

The recipe I want to share with you today is a favorite of mine. Even though the cookbook it has originated from has gone MIA for some time now, it hasn't stopped this tasty bread from being made.

It started out as a tongue in cheek nod to the tradition of bringing a loaf of bread and some salt when someone moves in. I brought this to a friend who was moving apartments and it was very well received by the tired, hungry and desolate person in question.

As the preparation is really simple and well worth the effort, I since brought this to a couple of gatherings with friends. It always got me points!



ingredients:

350 gr flour
1 packet (7 gr) instant yeast
1 teaspoon of salt (I like the bread dough to be salty. If you prefer it more neutral only add half)
210 ml lukewarm water
1 tablespoon olive oil
Toppings:
olive oil
sea salt
Whatever suits your taste: Herbs (rosemary, sage, marjoram, oregano, thyme, etc), sliced onions, olives... The possibilities are endless.

1. Mix the dry ingredients before adding the water and oil. Knead until it forms a pliable and coherent dough. Spread a splash of olive oil onto some plastic wrap and use this to gently cover your dough. Put the dough into a warm place and let it rise for an hour. (It should double in volume.)

2. Spread a baking sheet or a 26 cm pie form with olive oil. Get out your dough. Kneed it gently for about 15 seconds, just to knock the air out. Roll it out into your form (2-3 cm thick) and cover it with the oiled wrap. Let it rise for another 20 minutes.

3. Use your finger tips to press dimples into the dough. These will hold small pools of olive oil later on. Cover again with the same plastic wrap and let it rise for the last time for 10 minutes.

4. While the dough it resting for the final time preheat your oven to 180°C. Prepare your topping for the foccacia. I went with; sliced onions, sage and marjoram this time.

5. Get your dough. First pour on olive oil all over it.(I'm guessing about four tablespoons as a minimum.) I use my hand so make sure it covers everything. Sprinkle with sea salt. Add whatever you like. If there are some chunky items (olives, onions) remember to press them into the dough a bit. They tend to fall off during or after baking.

6. Shove into the hot oven and bake for 25 minutes until it has a golden brown color. Let it cool before serving.