Here in Idaho, the flowers and trees are busting out with color. So why not bring the brightness of Spring into the kitchen by creating something that's beautiful and delicious too? Here's a chance to bring out the baker AND the artist in you!
And the best part is—this super delicious focaccia bread is easy to make!
True, this Italian flatbread (Focaccia) does require some rising time, but it is truly one of the easiest breads to bake, with the results being a super light, airy bread with amazing flavor. Enjoy as a complement to any meal, or all by itself!
Ingredients:
1 pkg. (1/4 oz.) active dry yeast
1 1/4 cups warm water (110 to 115 degrees) divided
1 tbsp. honey
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup plus 3 tbsp. olive oil divided
3/4 tsp. kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
1 tsp. flaky sea salt (optional)
Note: There is a difference between kosher salt and table salt or sea salt.
1 1/4 tsp. of kosher salt = 1 tsp. of table salt or sea salt.
Directions:
1. In a large bowl dissolve the yeast and the honey in 1/2 cup of warm water and let stand for 5 minutes. Add the flour, 1/4 cup of oil, kosher salt, and the remaining 3/4 cup of water. Mix until smooth (the dough will be wet). Scrape the sides of the bowl clean and cover (I use a clean, damp dish towel). Let rise in a warm place until doubled - about 45 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Brush a 13 x 9" baking dish or 12" cast iron skillet with 1 tbsp. oil. Gently scrape the dough directly into the pan, then spread it out with lightly oiled hands. If the dough springs back, wait 10 minutes and stretch again.
3. Make indentations in the dough with your fingers and drizzle with the remaining 2 tbsp. of olive oil. Cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 30 to 40 minutes.
4. When the dough is ready to go, channel your inner artist and create a custom design with
veggies and herbs (details below), or just sprinkle it with flaky sea salt (if desired) and
bake as is until golden brown (about 20 to 25 minutes).
Ideas for Designing a Custom Topping:
Bell peppers are one of the best vegetables to use when baking because they retain their color, shape and texture. Mini sweet peppers are great for color and flavor too. Red onions are aromatic and flavorful, but they tend to fade a bit once baked, but long green onions make great flower stems. Fresh herbs like parsley and sage work well retaining their color, shape, and flavor (while herbs like thyme and rosemary tend to shrivel and burn). Olives add flavor but also tend to shrivel, and tomatoes often release juice, which can make your bread soggy, so use sparingly. Sun-dried tomatoes however, do wonderfully!
Be creative and experiment with other veggies and herbs if you'd like. I found that flavored olive oils like garlic (this one is really good!), or basil are both a nice flavor addition. Pick up a variety of three flavors here.
Although you don't really need tweezers (fingers work great), here is a fun kit available for turning Italian flatbread into art!
Such possibilities! Enjoy!
If you like this recipe, you might also enjoy Best Muffins EVER!,
Strawberry Lemon Scones and the amazing ...
Check out other Off the Chart pages for Fun, Stories, and more!
Published by Jennifer Tipton / This post may contain affiliate links.
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