Herb Focaccia Recipes

Steps:

• Sprinkle yeast and sugar into 1/2 cup of the water - do not stir.
• Let stand 10 minutes or until the surface becomes bubbly.
• In large bowl, combine flour and table salt.
• Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in yeast mixture and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Stir with wooden spoon or electric mixer, and slowly add remaining 1/4 cup water - dough will be soft and slightly sticky.
• Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead for 10 minutes, adding small spoonfuls of flour if necessary.
• If you are using a stand mixer, you may continue using the dough hook setting rather than turning out on the board as mentioned in step 6.
• When dough is smooth and elastic, place in bowl and cover with plastic wrap or damp cloth.
• Let rise in a warm place- about 80-85 degrees - until doubled in bulk, for 1 hour.
• Turn onto lightly floured surface. Knead gently several times.
• Flatten into 10-inch circle. Place on an oiled baking stone, pizza pan or heavy cookie sheet (I use a large cast iron skillet). Press indentations into the surface of the dough with fingers to make "dimples." Loosely cover and let rise about 15 minutes, or until doubled in size. Preheat oven to 425°F.
• In a blender or mortar and pestle, combine remaining 3 Tbsp olive oil and herbs until leaves are broken up and oil is fragrant.
• Pour over dough. Rub gently into surface. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
• Bake 15 minutes, reduce heat to 400°F.
• Bake 5 minutes more, or until golden brown.
• Let cool and cut into wedges.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Coat a 13 by 9-inch sheet pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Spread out the pizza dough to fit the sheet pan.
• In a small bowl mix together the Italian seasoning and remaining olive oil. Brush the seasoned oil all over the top of the dough, making sure to reserve about 2 teaspoons. Using your fingers punch dimples about halfway down into the dough. Bake in the hot oven for about 8 minutes.
• Remove the focaccia from the oven, top with tomato slices, sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste, and bush with remaining 2 teaspoons of the oil mixture. Return to the oven and bake until the focaccia is gold brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cut into squares and serve warm with Tuscan Peasant Soup with Tortellini.

Steps:

• Place 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon olive oil, bread flour, white sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and active dry yeast, respectively, in the pan of a bread machine. Select pizza cycle; press Start.
• Combine crushed garlic and 1/3 cup olive oil in a small bowl. Set aside to let it steep, about 30 minutes.
• Combine Parmesan cheese, parsley, onion powder, and herbes de Provence in another small bowl.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease a large rimmed baking sheet with olive oil.
• Deflate dough and turn out into the baking sheet. Stretch dough gently out to 1/2-inch thickness, using your fingers to make dimples that will hold the toppings.
• Pour garlic and oil mixture onto dough and spread it evenly over the dough and edges with your hands. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese mixture evenly on top. Sprinkle dough with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer from the baking sheet to a rack. Let cool, 5 minutes. Cut into squares with a pizza cutter.

Steps:

• On a floured surface, roll out 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough into a 10-by-15-inch rectangle; press into an oiled rimmed baking sheet. Mix 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary and/or oregano, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes and a big pinch of sea salt. Brush half of the herb oil over the dough, then set aside until puffy, about 1 hour. Make dimples in the dough with your fingers and top with thin onion slices and shaved parmesan. Bake at 400 until golden, about 20 minutes. Brush with the remaining herb oil.

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups flour with 1 cup room-temperature water and 1/4 teaspoon yeast in a medium bowl. Stir to make a shaggy dough, making sure there are no dry pockets of flour or yeast. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until there are large air bubbles on the surface and the dough has risen, about 4 hours.
• Combine 3/4 cup warm water with 3 tablespoons olive oil and the honey in a liquid measuring cup; stir to dissolve the honey. Combine the remaining 2 1/2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons yeast and the kosher salt in a large bowl; stir to combine and make a well in the center. Pour the honey mixture into the well. Add the risen dough mixture and stir until combined. It will be very stretchy, but continue stirring until a shaggy dough forms, making sure there are no dry pockets of flour or yeast. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until more than doubled in size and there are air bubbles on the surface, 1 to 2 hours.
• Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray, then pour 3 tablespoons olive oil in the middle. Oil your hands, then run your hands down the inside of the bowl and remove the dough (it will deflate). Transfer the dough to the baking sheet and turn to coat in the oil. Shape the dough into a 12-inch-long oval, gently tucking the edges under if the dough spreads too much. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in size and there are air bubbles on the surface, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Uncover the dough, then press with your fingertips to create dimples in the surface. Top with vegetables and herbs in a garden pattern.
• Drizzle the dough and vegetables with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and gently rub it into the vegetables, pressing them into the dough. Sprinkle with flaky salt. Bake until the bottom of the focaccia has browned, the top is golden and the vegetables are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes on the baking sheet.

Steps:

• To make the poolish: Whisk the whole wheat flour, steel-cut oats, water and yeast in medium bowl. Cover with plastic and set aside at room temperature for 12 hours or overnight.
• To make the dough: Whisk the all-purpose, whole wheat, and oat flour, flaxseed, yeast, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the poolish, water, and olive oil. Stir the wet ingredients into the flour with a wooden spoon to make a very sticky loose dough. Cover with a kitchen towel and let stand for 30 minutes.
• Turn the dough out of the bowl onto a well-floured work surface or prep mat. Coat your hands with flour and press dough into a 12 by 8-inch rectangle (long side towards you). Using a bench scraper, fold the dough as you would a business letter. (The dough is very wet and this may seem odd, but just move quickly with the scraper and fold 1 end of the dough over the other. Make sure you brush any raw flour from the surface of the dough before you fold over the second end). Spray with cooking spray and cover with a kitchen towel. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Fold the dough again like a letter, and rest for another 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Divide the olive oil among 2 pans and swirl to coat the pan. Divide dough in half and transfer a piece to each pan, turn dough over to coat both sides with oil, then press dough evenly into the pans. Scatter the garlic, thyme, and rosemary over the top and press the toppings into the dough with your fingers. Sprinkle with sea salt and scatter the cheese on top. (See Cook's Note.)
• Bake until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Slip focaccia from the pans and cool on a rack.

Steps:

• Five hours before baking the focaccia, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and oil the bottom and interior sides with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Begin panning and dimpling the White Master Dough, at 20-minute intervals, dipping your fingers in olive oil to keep them from sticking to the dough as you work. After three to four rounds of dimpling and resting, the dough will have relaxed enough to cover the whole pan. At this point, rub the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil over the dough and cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap. Then allow 3 hours for the final rise.
• When the dough reaches the rim of the pan (or doubled in size), position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 475 degrees F (425 degrees F for convection). Carefully peel off the plastic wrap, drizzle the dough with 2 tablespoons herbed olive oil and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with 2 cups Parmesan or Romano cheese. Return to the oven for 2 to 3 minutes to melt the cheese. Transfer the focaccia to a cutting board and let rest 3 to 5 minutes before serving.
• Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 8 minutes. Then rotate the pan 180 degrees and bake 9 to 12 minutes longer, or until the top and the undercrust are golden brown. If using cheese, remove the pan from the oven when the focaccia looks done and sprinkle it with the cheese. Return the pan to the oven for 2 minutes and then remove it.
• Transfer the baked focaccia to the stovetop or to a heatproof counter. Using an offset spatula or bench blade, carefully slide it around the edge, between the crust and the side of the pan, and then lift the focaccia out of the pan and slide it onto a cutting board. Drizzle any oil remaining in the baking pan over the focaccia. If the parchment paper or baking mat is still clinging to the focaccia, remove it. Let cool for 5 minutes, then cut into 3- or 4-inch squares and serve.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt and yeast. Add all of the water and mix on slow speed for 30 seconds or stir with a large spoon to form a coarse, shaggy dough. Add the 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, increase the speed to medium (or continue mixing with the spoon or with wet hands), and mix for another 30 to 60 seconds to make a wet, coarse, sticky dough. It may seem too wet to form a cohesive dough at this stage. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes to fully hydrate.
• Increase the mixer speed to medium-high (or continue mixing by hand) and mix for another 30 to 60 seconds to make a smooth, sticky dough. It should be soft, supple and sticky to the touch, and offer a little resistance when pressed with a wet finger.
• Use 1 teaspoon of the extra oil to make a 15-inch-diameter oil slick on the work surface. Rub some oil on a plastic bowl scraper and on your hands and use the scraper to transfer the dough to the oil slick. Stretch and fold the dough. Cover the dough with a bowl and let it rest for 2 to 5 minutes. Repeat the stretch and fold (rub more oil on the work surface as needed), cover the dough, and let it rest for 2 to 5 minutes. Then repeat the stretch and fold, cover with the bowl, and again let it rest for 2 to 5 minutes. Perform a fourth and final stretch and fold to make a smooth ball of dough. The dough will have firmed up after each stretch and fold and will now be soft, smooth, supple, and somewhat sticky but firm enough to hold together when lifted. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 12 to 72 hours.
• In a bowl, whisk together the oil, basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic and pepper flakes and paprika (if using), gradually adding the salt and whisking the oil to bring the salt to the surface before tasting. Store in the refrigerator in a container with a lid, where it will keep for at least 6 months. Makes 1 cup.

Steps:

• NOTE: homemade herbes de Provence is easy to make. **Very important to use a herbes de Provence recipe that has lavender. Some recipes do not specify it.
• In a small bowl, stir the sugar and yeast into 1 1/2 cups warm water. Allow to stand 5 minutes or until the mixture becomes bubbly.
• In a food processor or large bowl, combine both flours and the salt. Add the yeast mixture and process until soft dough forms. Pour 4 tablespoons of the olive oil through the feed tube while the motor is running. Process 2 minutes more or until dough pulls from the side of the processor.
• Transfer dough to bowl coated with olive oil, cover with clean kitchen cotton towel and proof 45 minutes in warm spot.
• Prepare a baking sheet by coating with oil. Pat the dough into an 11 x 13-inch rectangle. (The shape doesn't have to be perfect because this is a rustic bread.) Cover with clean cotton towel and let rise 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Place oven rack on lowest level. With your fingertips, gently poke holes randomly all over the bread dough. Brush focaccia with olive oil. Sprinkle evenly with the herbes de Provence and a little bit of salt.
• Bake approximately 30 minutes or until both the top and bottom of bread are golden brown.
• Remove from oven and let set for 15 minutes before slicing. (We don't slice however, we grab and tear.).

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.

Steps:

• Sprinkle yeast into 1 cup warm water and stir with fork to dissolve. Let sit for five minutes. Mix flour, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the dissolved yeast and the oil.
• Mix in the flour a little at a time. Add the additional 1/4 cup water one tablespoon at a time, to form a soft sticky dough. Add more water, one tablespoon at a time only if needed. Dough should not be dry.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, approximately 10 minutes.
• Brush top of dough with olive oil and cover with a dish towel. Let rise until doubled in size, about 30-40 minutes. Punch down and divide the dough into two pieces. Place on cookie sheet and stretch dough into rectangular shape approx 6x12 inches each.
• Let rise again until double, approximately 30 minutes, then use finger tips to gently press into the surface of the dough to form "dimples" about 1/2 inch deep. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with herbs and onion slivers.
• Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden. Serve hot or room temperature.

Steps:

• First make the starter dough - mix the yeast with 100ml hand-hot water in a small bowl. Leave for 5 mins until bubbling. Add the flour to a large bowl, and pour in the yeast mix and another 250ml hand-hot water. Beat vigorously with your hand for a few mins. (The dough will be really wet but don't worry, you'll be adding more flour later.) Scrape all the dough from your hands and the sides of the bowl. Cover tightly with cling film and leave to ferment in the fridge for at least 12 hrs, overnight if possible.
• Meanwhile, make the herb oil. Set aside 2-3 sprigs each of rosemary and thyme, plus a few bay leaves. Bash the rest using a pestle and mortar (or use a rolling pin) to release the flavours, then stuff into a large sterilised bottle or Kilner jar, or a few jam jars (see tip, right). Heat the oil in a saucepan until just warm, then carefully pour into the bottle using a funnel. Leave to cool before securing with a lid.
• Take the starter dough out of the fridge about 1 hr before you want to make your focaccia - it should have risen considerably. To finish the dough, mix in the additional flour, the sea salt and herb oil until it's soft yet slightly sticky. Knead the dough with extra oil for 5 mins until smooth and springy. Return to a clean, warm bowl and leave to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hr.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Turn the risen dough onto a deep oiled baking tray (about 20 x 30cm) and press to a rectangle about 2cm thick. Break the reserved herbs into smaller bits and push them into the dough. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise until doubled in size.
• Once risen, press lots of holes into the dough with your fingers. Brush the top with a little more herb oil and sprinkle over some rough sea salt. Fill a shallow tray with some water and put in the bottom of the oven, with the bread on a shelf above. Bake for 25 mins until golden, reducing the temperature to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 if the bread starts to brown too much. Remove from the oven, scatter over the reserved herbs and bake for another 10-15 mins until cooked through. Cool on a wire rack until ready to eat. Tear into chunks and dip in more herb oil, if you like.

Steps:

• Combine the yeast, water and sugar in a bowl, and let stand for 5 minutes, or until foamy. Stir in the oil and 3 cups of the flour. Knead the dough by hand for 6 to 8 minutes until smooth and elastic, or use a food processor or a mixer fitted with a dough hook. If necessary, add more flour; the dough should be soft and pliable but not sticky.
• Place the dough in an oiled bowl, brush the top with oil, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.
• Punch the dough down, and form it into a long 2-inch-thick roll. Cut the roll into 2-inch pieces. Form each piece into a ball, and keep covered with a damp dish towel. Roll out each ball as thinly as possible to make a flat bread 6 to 8 inches in diameter and 1/8-inch thick. Lightly dust each round with flour, and stack, separated by pieces of wax paper.
• Heat the grill until it is medium-hot. Mince the garlic, and combine with the herbs in a small bowl. Combine the cracked peppercorns and salt in another small bowl. Lightly brush each round with olive oil, sprinkle with herbs and the salt mixture, and place, oiled side down, on the grill. Cook for 30 to 60 seconds, or until slightly puffed and blistered. Lightly brush the top with oil, and sprinkle on more herbs and the salt mixture. Turn the focaccia, and cook another 30 seconds or until lightly browned. Cook all the dough the same way.
• Just before serving, sprinkle each focaccia with a few more herbs and the salt mixture.

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and sugar in 1 cup warm water and set aside until bubbly about 10-15 minutes.
• In a food processor, combine flour, salt, 1 T. olive oil, and yeast mixture, processing until dough pulls away from the sides to form a ball.
• Knead dough on a floured surface until smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Place a little olive oil in a bowl, place dough in the bowl, give it a twist, turn the ball over to coat the other side, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled.
• Punch dough down. Transfer to a floured surface and stretch dough to fit a 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 inch pan. Lightly grease the pan, transfer dough to the pan, and stretch as needed to fit. Using your fingertips make "dimples" across the top of the dough.
• Brush remaining olive oil over the top of the dough, sprinkle with desired amount of each herb, a few crushed red pepper flakes, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Allow to rise uncovered for 30 minutes.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
• Cut as desired.

Steps:

• Add ingredients for the dough according to bread machine directions.
• Select dough cycle.
• Remove dough to lightly floured surface; cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Grease a 13x9 inch pan and sprinkle with cornmeal.
• Press dough evenly in pan.
• Drizzle with oil, and scatter remaining topping ingredients evenly over dough.
• Cover with towel and let rise in warm place until doubled, 30-40 minutes.
• Poke deep holes with finger in risen dough about 1 inch apart.
• Bake at 400ºF on lower oven rack for 20-25 minutes, or until golden.
• Remove from pan, and serve warm.

Steps:

• Get Cookin'
• 1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
• 2. Unroll the pizza dough as directed on the package onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle half of the herbs on the dough and fold the dough in half lengthwise.
• 3. Brush the top with olive oil and evenly distribute the remaining herbs, onion, and cheese.
• 4. Salt and pepper to taste.
• 5. Bake for 15 minutes until the foccacia is golden brown and crispy.
• 6. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and serve sliced.
• Hints and Clues
• You can use a pizza stone or pizza pan if you have one. Make sure the pan is heated in the oven thirty minutes before you put the dough on it.