Focaccia

This is a Italian flat oven baked bread with herb toppings.

You can have your own toppings- olives,cherry tomatoes,any vegetables etc.
Can have  it as a sandwich.
The dough is very similiar to pizza dough.
Taste is awesome and very easy to make.


Ingredients for 2 focaccia- one rectangle and one oval.
All purpose flour- 500 gms or 4 and 1/2 cups,

Olive oil- 1/4 cup and some more for drizzling and coating of pan.
Active yeast- 1 pkt,
Salt- 2tsp,
Sugar- 1tsp,
Luke warm water- 1and 3/4 cup,
Dry rosemary or fresh if available- 1 tbsp,
Garlic- 5 to 6 ( small)- chopped,
Onion-1/2 sliced.

Method:
It can be made into rectangle shape as your baking tray or into a oval shape.
I have made both.
The dough can be made with hand or machine.
If making by hand you will have to knead the dough for 10 minutes to make it smooth and springy to touch.
I have made with electric beater using a hook attachment.It takes 3 to 4 minutes.

Mix warm water,sugar and yeast in a measuring cup or bowl and leave for 10 minutes to foam up.

Sieve flour and add salt.Mix with a whisk.

Once the yeast is active,pour it in the mixing bowl.
Add olive oil and 2 cups of flour.

Run the beater with hook attachment for few seconds in low speed.
Gradually add all the flour and run in high speed for 3 minutes,until the dough will leave sides.

The dough will be very sticky.

Grease another bowl with olive oil and with floured hand transfer the dough to it.
Flip the dough to coat evenly with olive oil.

Cover with a kitchen cloth and keep in warm place to rise for 1 hour ( the best place is oven)
The dough will double in size.

Grease the baking tray and once the dough has risen,transfer the dough to it.

Since my tray is 9x13 and small for this much of dough,I have removed some dough to another small tray,giving the dough an oval shape.

Stretch the dough with fingers and fill the corners,making light holes ( rectangle shape).

Drizzle some olive oil and then cover with towel and let it rise for another hour.
For the ovel shape,stretch the dough,taking care for the shape.

Cover and let it rise for 1 hour.

Pre heat oven to 425 F or 220 C
In a small bowl,add 3 tbsp of olive oil,dry rosemary,chopped garlic and sliced onions.
Mix and keep aside.

Once the dough has risen,make deep identations with your fingers all over it.

Spread the garlic, onion ,rosemary,olive oil mixture on top of the dough.

Bake for 20 minutes or golden brown on top.

Take out from oven and leave it for 5 minutes to cool on the wire rack.
Run knife through the edges of the tray after 5 minutes.
Run a flat broad spatulla under the bread to loosen it from the tray.
Transfer the bread to wire rack to cool.

Cut big slices and enjoy this delicious Italian bread with a dip, gravy or as a pizza.

Wrap in plastic or ziplock bag and can be stored in the fridge.