Tomato & Eggplant Focaccia Bread

Lizzie Rodriquez's Note:

tasty focaccia.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 2 hrs
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 16

Yield: 1.0 loaf

• 1 ¼ ounces active dry yeast
• 1 1⁄3; cups warm water , about 100 to 110 degrees
• 4 cups all-purpose flour , divided
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• nonstick cooking spray
• 2 tablespoons olive oil , divided
• 1 garlic clove , minced
• 1 cup eggplant , peeled, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil , chopped
• 2 teaspoons capers
• 1⁄8; teaspoon salt
• 1⁄8; teaspoon black pepper
• 16 kalamata olives , chopped, pitted
• 5 plum tomatoes , about a pound, thinly sliced

Directions:

1. To prepare dough, dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Add 3 1/2 cups of flour, 3 tablespoons basil, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1 teaspoon salt; stir just until moist.
2. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes); add enough of remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands.
3. Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size.
4. Punch dough down; cover and let rest 5 minutes. Divide dough in half. Working with 1 portion at a time (cover remaining dough to keep from drying), roll each half into a 10-inch circle on a pizza pan or baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Cover and let rise 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
5. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
6. To prepare tapenade, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds. Add eggplant; cook 8 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Place eggplant mixture in a food processor. Add 1 tablespoon oil, 2 tablespoons basil, and next 4 ingredients basil through olives); pulse 1 minute, scraping sides of bowl once.
7. Uncover dough. Spread 1/4 cup tapenade over each focaccia. Arrange tomatoes evenly over tapenade. Spread remaining tapenade over tomatoes. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Reviews

[Soygal]

This is so delicious that it's hard to describe. The crust and topping are perfection. The aroma fresh out of the oven is amazing and the perfectly balanced flavors explode in the mouth. A group of friends have "Eggplant Wednesday" once a month where we get together and everyone brings a dish with eggplant in it to share. I decided to make this today for the dinner tonight. It smelled so delicious when I took it out of the oven that I took one next door (where the dinner will be later) and we devoured it while it was still hot. We were only going to taste it but no one could stop. We cut pieces off the end, ate them and then cut some more and ate those, too. It's a good thing I only took one of them over; I still have one for the dinner later...and for the people who weren't there for the tasting.