Easy Focaccia

Pa. Hiker's Note:

A quick, easy foccacia that doesn't use pizza bread. There are a number of good dipping oils that work well with this; my family like it with a spaghetti sauce (jar) or as a base for pizza.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 40 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6-8

Yield: 1.0 loaf

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons yeast (package is 2-1/4 tsp)
• 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 ½ cups warm water , plus
• 2 tablespoons warm water
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese (optional)
• ½ tablespoon rosemary (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine all of the ingredients, beat for 5 minutes at medium speed, let rest at room temp, covered, for 1 hour.
2. Scoup the sticky dough into a lightly greased 9x13 pan.
3. Cover the pan, let the dough rise for 1 hour until it looks bubbly.
4. Bake the focaccia in an oven preheated to 400°F for 25 minutes, or until it’s golden brown.
5. Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesean cheese and/ or fresh rosemary about 5 minutes before the end of the baking time.
6. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

Reviews

[weekend cooker]

Great bread, but not easy to make. Dough was doughy, and somewhat incinsistant. Made for Alphabet tag.

[Marg (CaymanDesigns)]

A great recipe for when you are short on time. My mixer was broke, so I mixed it by hand and didn't have any trouble. The dough was very sticky, but it baked up nicely. Our biggest complaint was the toppings didn't stick with adding them at the end. I think it would be better to mix the rosemary into the dough and brush the top lightly with oil before adding the Parmesan cheese to help it adhere better. The flavor reminded me of some bread sticks I've made without the hassle of making individual sticks. A good starting point, but I think it could be jazzed up a bit.

[sugaree]

Very interesting consistency when mixing - not what you would expect from a yeast bread. I would recommend adding more seasoning on top, garlic, basil, salt whatever your prefernece. Quick to make - nice to eat.