
Focaccia - this recipe seemed quite detailed & time intensive - but well worth the effort! Here's the poolish starter: bread flour, yeast & water.

Ferment at room temperature for 3-4 hours.

Very bubbly - the poolish went into the fridge overnight.

Here is my kitchen helper selecting the herbs to prepare the herb oil...

Sage, basil, rosemary, parsley, thyme & oregano

A bit of garlic...

One cup olive oil...

A beautiful medley of flavors & colors...

The next morning - dry ingredients...

The poolish taken out of the fridge an hour prior to use to take the chill off...

Dry ingredients blended with the wet...

A sticky blob of dough...

A transformation after 6 minutes of kneading by my KitchenAid Professional 600...

Dough on floured surface...(poor photos when your countertop is the same color as the dough...)

Dough patted into a rectangle & let rest for 5 minutes...

Stretch & fold method...



Cover & let rest for 30 minutes...

Stretch & folded & rested dough a total of 3 times...

After the third rest period...

Dough covered & allowed to ferment at room temperature for one hour...It is almost the same size as the 12"x17" pan...

Placed dough in parchment lined pan drizzled with olive oil...

Dimpled dough & drizzled half of the herbed olive oil mixture...

Covered with plastic wrap & proofed for 2 hours at room temperature...

Big & bubbly!

A side view after the 2 hour proof...

Dimpled dough again & added more herb oil about 30 minutes prior to baking...

Side view after second dimpling...

Dough relaxed for 30 minutes to allow gas to build up again...

Side view - it did rise almost an inch as the recipe said...

Baked for 20 minutes total in 450' degree oven - rotating half way though cooking time...internal temperature read 209'degrees

BEAUTIFUL! & the aroma was amazing!

Stunning golden crust on the bottom...

Light & airy...

Unfortunately the focaccia did not yield any big air holes as I was hoping...but it was absolutely delicious!
Perfectly paired with wine & an italian dinner with friends! This recipe will definately be made again & experimented with different herbs & toppings...One of my favorites so far!
That is GORGEOUS!! Wow, I'm so impressed and I LOVE your in-progress shots. Awesome. Makes me want to make it again right now. Well done!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Angela. Your focaccia looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteYou bread looks great. Love this one. A worthy signature bread.
ReplyDeleteWOW...you are quite the gourmet! Looks decadent! You better not fatten me up next week!
ReplyDeleteYour focaccia looks so good! Gorgeous! I loved making the focaccia! Happy Baking!
ReplyDeleteAwesome color on the crust. Simply golden! My favorite photo is of the poolish making a bubble on the plastic wrap. Reminds you that the yeast, as well as the bread, is alive.
ReplyDelete