You know you’ve been blogging for too long when you’ve got several focaccia recipes in your site… Granted, I had no intention of trying a new recipe. Instead, for our Halloween party I was set on using one of my tried and true blogged about not too long ago. However, in typical Sally fashion, I never bothered to check the recipe the day before. I knew I would be up very early and c’mon, how long can a focaccia dough take? It turns out that very long. For the recipe I had in mind, the dough goes through a fermentation overnight in the fridge. Bummer. A quick plan B was set into motion, and a frantic calm and collected google search took me to one of Anne Burrell’s recipes from years ago. Not surprising when Anne is concerned, her focaccia calls for a substantial amount of olive oil, more than any other I’ve ever made. I actually cut the amount a little and it was still delicious and with a crust that left our guests going back for seconds. And thirds. A very simple recipe to put together even if you decide to bake focaccia on a whim.
ANNE BURRELL’S FOCACCIA
(slightly modified from Food TV Network)
1 3/4 cups warm water
1 package active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
5 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for kneading
1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus coarse sea salt, for sprinkling
2 tsp Herbes de Provence
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided (1/2 cup + 1/4 cup)
a little more olive oil for a final drizzle on top
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 1/4 cup olive oil. 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.
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 Herbes de Provence, then 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.
ENJOY!
to print the recipe, click here
Comments: Anne Burrell’s original version calls for a full cup of olive oil, half of it for the dough and half poured on the baking sheet. I simply could not bring myself to use so much oil, so I wrote the recipe with 3/4 cup total, but it could have been just a little less than that. It was still decadent. You know how a good croissant leaves your fingers a bit coated with butter? This focaccia will do the same. As Anne likes to say… accept it and move on. Also, my personal advice for the move on part: increase your running distance a little bit next day, or add a few more push-ups and bicep curls to your routine…
DISCLAIMER
This recipe is not:
Paleo-friendly
Low-carb
Low-fat
Gluten-free
Atkins-approved
Dukan-compliant
South-Beach friendly
Ketogenic
However, it is MIGHTY TASTY!
😉
ONE YEAR AGO: Double Chocolate and Mint Cookies
TWO YEARS AGO: Cappuccino Panna Cotta
THREE YEARS AGO: Chicken Parmigiana, the Thriller
FOUR YEARS AGO: Wild Mushroom Risotto
FIVE YEARS AGO: Tartine Bread: Basic Country Loaf
SIX YEARS AGO: Pugliese Bread
Bewitching Kitchen 
A beautiful focaccia which belies the term flatbread as it’s so lofty.
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INdeed, pretty plump!
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Sounds so good. I believe the directions overlook what to do with the herbs de Provence. But then, it is 300 a.m.
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Thanks for the catch. I edited the body of the post… 😉
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I have made someone’s recipe using just as much EVOO, amazing. I like the herbes de Provence instead of the usual sprinkles of basil and oregano. Thanks Sally.
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Just a little change from the usual… I adore Herbes de Provence! 😉
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I’d like a piece of that and dip it in good olive oil and dukkah. Yummo!
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Love dukkah! Never made it from scratch, though… only had in restaurants… shame!
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Reblogged this on Chef Ceaser.
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Thanks for sharing the focaccia love…..
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I LOVE LOVE LOVE your disclaimer! Hysterical. The focaccia looks delicious! I have lost count on how many times I’ve gotten to the point on a recipe and it says “refrigerate overnight.” Doh! I need to learn to read the entire recipe!
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You and me both… but the real killer is that I had done that recipe before and let me be brutally honest, not that long ago (sigh, sigh, sigh). Guess who needs to learn about reading? 😉
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I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve gotten through a recipe to the point where is says “refrigerate over night.” Doh!!!! Your focaccia looks delish, and I love herbes de Provence.
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I do think that from now on I will add a warning right on top of the post – WATCH OUT! THIS RECIPE NEEDS TO BE STARTED 3 DAYS BEFORE SERVING TIME… well, I’m getting a bit carried away, but… you do see my point, right? 😉
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Love focaccia! This is beautiful!
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Focaccia is so festive! And easy to prepare, so it’s a winner around here!
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You are the master of breads Sally! This looks absolutely delicious. I can just imagine how it tastes. That description of the oil on your fingers is perfect. I can totally imagine it. Love that you found a quick solution – although I would never doubt you.
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I don’t like to make a new bread recipe for get-togethers, I am always a bit nervous, but I’m glad I tried this one, truly spectacular, and a nice texture, very soft… well, I guess if you dump a gallon of olive oil on anything it will make it super soft ;-)… tell the kids I said hi!
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Good save, this looks delicious. I also love Herbes de Provence.
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I actually start to get nervous if I am about to run out of herbes de Provence – I use it all the time, sprinkle on bread for croutons, for instance…. soooo delicious!
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Her focaccia is very similar to our spianata. Call it what you may, I love this bread! It’s the rosemary. Bread baking always smells great but when you add rosemary to the dough. the result, for me, is irresistible. It freeze well, too. I’ll make a quarter sheet for myself and freeze half once it’s cooled. That half will be a welcome addition to any dinner.
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When I make focaccia for just the two of us, I also freeze half – so convenient! It thaws quickly and with a few minutes in a low oven you get bread as good as freshly baked…. cannot beat it!
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Ha ha! All that oil?? Increase your running distance for the next week!!
Fabulous bread though 🙂
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