Foolproof Focaccia Recipes

Steps:

• 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 kosher 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 and tacky.
• Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly floured surface, then knead it by hand 1 or 2 times. Again, give it another sprinkle of flour if the dough is really sticky and tacky.
• Coat the inside of the mixer bowl lightly with olive oil and return the dough to the bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and put it in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, at least 1 hour.
• Coat a jelly roll pan with the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil. (Chef's Note: This may seem excessive, but focaccia is an oily crusted bread. This is why it is soooooooooo delicious!).
• Put the dough onto the jelly roll 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 the pan. As you are doing so, spread your fingers out and make finger holes all the way through the dough. (Chef's Note: Yes, this is strange. But when the dough rises again it will create the characteristic craggy looking focaccia. If you do not make the actual holes in the dough, the finished product will be very smooth.)
• 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.
• Liberally sprinkle the top of the focaccia with some coarse sea salt and lightly drizzle a little oil on top. Bake the dough until the top of the loaf is golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the focaccia from the oven and let it cool before cutting and serving.
• Oh baby!

Steps:

• Whisk yeast, honey, and 2½ cups lukewarm water in a medium bowl and let sit 5 minutes. Add flour and salt; mix with a rubber spatula until a shaggy dough forms and no dry streaks remain.
• Pour 4 Tbsp. oil into the biggest bowl that will fit in your refrigerator. Transfer dough to bowl and turn to coat in oil. Cover with a silicone lid or plastic wrap and chill until dough is doubled in size (it should look very bubbly and alive), at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
• Generously butter a 13x9" baking pan (for thicker focaccia that's perfect for sandwiches) or an 18x13" rimmed baking sheet. Pour 1 Tbsp. oil into center of pan. Keeping the dough in the bowl, gather up edges of dough farthest from you and lift up and over into center of bowl. Give the bowl a quarter turn and repeat process. Do this 2 more times; you want to deflate dough while you form it into a rough ball. (Using a fork in each hand makes this process even easier and less messy!)
• Transfer dough to prepared pan. Pour any oil left in bowl over the dough and coat it in oil. Let rise, uncovered, in a dry, warm spot until doubled in size, at least 1½ hours and up to 4 hours. To see if it's ready, poke the dough with your finger. The dough should spring back slowly, leaving a small visible indentation. If it springs back quickly, the dough isn't ready. (If at this point the dough is ready to bake but you aren't, you can chill it up to 1 hour.)
• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 450°F. Lightly oil your hands. If using a rimmed baking sheet, gently stretch out dough to fill (you may not need to do this if using a baking pan). Dimple focaccia all over with your fingers, as if you're aggressively playing the piano, creating very deep depressions in the dough. Drizzle with remaining 1 Tbsp. oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake focaccia until puffed and golden brown all over, 20-30 minutes.
• Melt 4 Tbsp. butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and grate in garlic (use 2 cloves if you're garlic-shy or up to 4 if you love it). Return to medium heat and cook, stirring often, until garlic is just lightly toasted, about 45 seconds. Brush garlic butter all over focaccia. If you don't want to serve the focaccia immediately, hold off on brushing so it remains crisp.

Steps:

• FOR THE DOUGH:.
• Boil potato in water and simmer until tender (about 25 minutes).
• Drain potato well and cool.
• Grate potato through large holes on box grater, fine disk on ricer or food processor.
• Reserve 1-1/3 cups lightly packed potato.
• Meanwhile, In food processor mix or pulse yeast, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/2 cup warm water until combined.
• Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place, until bubbly (about 20 minutes).
• Add remaining dough ingredients (including the remaining 3 cups flour), including reserved potato.
• Process dough for about 40 seconds until it's smooth and elastic.
• Transfer dough to lightly oiled bowl, turn to coat with oil and cover tightly with plastic wrap.
• let rise in warm area until dough is puffy and doubled in volume (about an hour).
• With wet hands (to prevent sticking) press dough flat into oiled or sprayed with Pam 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 jelly roll pan (I sprinkle a little flour on top of dough and gently pat it into shape. I don't make it quite as large, since I like it really thick).
• Cover dough with lightly greased plastic wrap (dough will stick otherwise) and let rise in warm area, about 45 minutes to an hour, until dough is puffy and doubled.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Adjust oven rack to lower middle position.
• With two wet fingers, dimple risen dough at regular intervals.
• TOPPING:.
• Drizzle dough with oil, and sprinkle evenly with the rosemary, salt, landing some in pools of oil.
• Bake until focaccia bottom is golden and crisp, 23-25 minutes.
• Yields: one 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 inch rectangle or 2 8 inch rounds.
• *Note: focaccia can be kept on counter for several hours and reheated just before serving.
• Or, wrap cooled focaccia in plastic wrap, and then foil and freeze for up to 1 month (unwrap and defrost in 325°F oven until soft, about 15 minutes).
• •VARIATIONS:.
• Parmesan Focaccia: substitute 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese for the rosemary and coarse sea salt.
• Focaccia with Black Olives and Thyme: substitute 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leave and 24 pitted large black olives (one per oil-filled dimple) for rosemary.

Steps:

• Place potato into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold running water.
• Peel potato; mash in a large bowl with a fork. Pour in flour and mix well with your fingertips. Rub together until mixture is even and free of lumps.
• Combine 1 cup water, yeast, and sugar in a bowl. Mix well and let stand until frothy, about 5 minutes. Stir in 5 tablespoons olive oil.
• Pour yeast mixture over flour mixture; mix, adding remaining 1 cup water a little at a time, until a soft dough forms. Mix in 1 tablespoon salt.
• Knead dough on a clean work surface until smooth and soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer dough to a greased bowl. Cover with a damp cloth; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 2 hours.
• Grease a large rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place dough on the baking sheet; stretch into the corners. Arrange tomatoes and olives over dough.
• Mix remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons water together in a bowl. Brush mixture over dough. Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon salt on top. Cover with a damp cloth; let rise for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bake focaccia on the lower rack of the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Lift up with a fork to check bottom is golden brown. Transfer to the middle rack and bake until top is golden, 10 to 15 minutes more. Sprinkle oregano on top.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F
• Brush a 12 by 18-inch baking tray with olive oil. Set aside.
• Using the mixer bowl, combine the yeast, 4 ounces of water and honey. Stir together until yeast dissolves into the water. Add 2 ounces of flour and mix to make a sponge. Let rise until double.
• Gradually add the remaining flour, water, olive oil, and salt. Using the dough hook attachment, mix over medium speed to make a soft dough. Beat for 3 minutes. Turn off machine, scrape sides of bowl and allow dough to relax for 10 minutes.
• Turn on mixer and continue to mix the dough for another 5 minutes at medium speed. The dough will become velvety and elastic. Transfer dough onto prepared baking tray.
• Stretch the dough to fill the tray. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise at room temperature for 20 minutes.
• Uncover the dough and stretch to cover the entire baking tray. Brush with olive oil and dimple with fingertips. Sprinkle with kosher salt, pepper, and thyme. Proof for 15 minutes. Bake for 10 minutes, turn around and bake another 6 to 8 minutes.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2-cup warm water and honey; let stand for 5 minutes. Add flour, 1/4 cup oil, salt and remaining 3/4-cup water; mixing until smooth (dough will be wet). Scrape the sides of the bowl clean; cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes., Preheat oven to 425°. Brush a 13x9-in. baking pan with 1 tablespoon oil. Gently scrape dough directly into pan. With oiled hands, gently spread dough. If dough springs back, wait 10 minutes and stretch again. Make indentations in the dough with your fingers. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil; let rise until doubled in size, 30-40 minutes. , If desired, sprinkle with sea salt. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Cut into squares; serve warm.