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Homemade Focaccia

Adapted from Anne Burrell's recipe - light, flaky, buttery and delicious. The added decorative touches on top make it even more amazing!
Prep Time2 hours
Cook Time25 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: bread, focaccia, yeast
Servings: 10
Author: Nicole Coudal

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cup Warm water
  • 1 pkg Active dry yeast
  • 1 Tb. Granulated sugar
  • 5 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 Tb. Kosher salt
  • 1 cup Extra virgin olive oil, divided (plus more for drizzling before baking)
  • Red/yellow peppers, olives, chives, basil, tiny tomatoes, hot peppers, etc. - chopped and/or sliced to accommodate your design (slice and place on paper towels to eliminate excess moisture before placing on dough)
  • 1-2 tsp. Flaky salt (sea, Maldon, other)

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, stir together water, yeast and sugar, then cover and place in a warm area to activate the yeast (about 20 minutes).
  • When the mixture is nice and bubbly, add it to the bowl of a stand-up mixer (fitted with a dough hook), along with flour, 1 Tb. Kosher salt, and 1/2 c. olive oil. Start the mixer on low until it's combined, and gradually work up to medium speed, for a total of 5-6 minutes.
  • Remove dough from bowl and place on a floured surface; knead it a few times.
  • Coat a large glass bowl with olive oil. Place dough in bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit in a warm area for about 1 hour so it doubles in size.
  • Pour the remaining 1/2 c. olive oil into a 12X17 rimmed baking sheet.
  • Remove dough from bowl and place onto the oiled baking sheet. Flip it over so all sides are covered in oil. Press the dough toward the outer edges of the sheet, digging your fingers into the dough to form indentations (don't worry if you make holes in the bottom of the dough - it's all good). Place the sheet in a warm place to let it rise again for about 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • Carefully place toppings onto the dough, pressing gently to secure them. Sprinkle with a little more olive oil and the flaky salt. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until nicely browned (careful not to burn your toppings).
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving. It's best served warm!