Focaccia
From Ars Cookbook
Submitted by CannonFodder
This is an extremely flexible recipe that can be altered for any and all tastes.
Ingredients
- All-purpose wheat flour (2 cups)
- Active Dry Yeast (1 package)
- Sugar (1 teaspoon)
- Olive Oil (2-4 tablespoons to taste)
- Water (warm, 1/3rd of a cup for yeast; as necessary for the dough)
- Salt (pinch / to taste)
- Garlic Powder
- Basil
- Oregano
- Herbes de Provence
- Mozzarella Cheese (shredded, a few handfuls - to taste)
- Toppings/Mix-Ins as desired (Suggestions: Tomatoes, Onions, Cheese, Garlic, Peppers)
Notes: Proportions for the Garlic Powder, Basil, Oregano, and Mozzarella are variable. Current recipe by author uses approximately 1-1.5 tablespoons of Basil, Oregano, and Garlic Powder, each, with a dash of Herbes de Provence.
Mozzarella cheese may be mixed in with the dough or sprinkled on top before baking.
Preparation
- If adding toppings or mix-ins, chop/shred those ingredients.
Directions
- In separate bowl, add yeast and sugar, followed by 1/3rd of a cup of Warm Water. Let stand until this mixture takes on a creamy consistency - approximately 10 minutes
- In a large mixing bowl (or electric mixer, if you have one) add Flour, Oregano, Basil, Garlic Powder, Herbes de Provence, and Mozzarella Cheese. Mix until evenly distributed.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of Olive Oil to the Flour/Herb/Cheese Mixture, as well as the activated Yeast Mixture. Stir in additional water (one small splash or tablespoon at a time) until all flour is absorbed.
- When dough has pulled together, remove from bowl and knead on a lightly-floured surface for a short period, approximately 1 minute.
- Oil a large bowl with approximately 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil.
- Place Dough into large bowl and turn it over so that all of the Dough has a light glaze of Olive Oil.
- Cover bowl with Dough with a damp cloth and allow dough to rise until it has doubled in size. This will take 30-45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 475 Degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove dough from bowl and knead for a few turns on a floured surface.
- If adding mix-ins, use this time to add your mix-ins to the dough.
- Place dough onto a slightly-greased sheet or pan and roll/pat it to the desired size/shape/thickness.
- Brush dough with remaining Olive Oil and add a dash or two of Salt over it.
- If adding toppings, place them over the dough.
- Bake for 10-20 minutes, depending on desired texture and presence or absence of toppings or mix-ins.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool.
This recipe is actually quite simple and may be changed to an infinite variety of flavors.
