Garlic Focaccia Bread

Garlic Focaccia Bread

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Rising Time

30 mins

Total Time

40 mins

Garlic Focaccia Bread, with olive oil and fresh herbs, is a great side dish for a variety of meats and salads, can be used to make sandwiches, or served as an appetizer with dipping oil!

Category: Appetizer, Bread, Side Dish

Ingredients

• 1/2 ounce dry active yeast
• 1 cup water heated to 100 degrees
• 3 cups flour (all purpose)
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese ,freshly grated
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic (crushed)
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme (or rosemary) , finely chopped

Instructions

·         Mix yeast with warm water (100 degrees) in a large bowl. Stir, then set bowl aside for 5 minutes to let yeast fully dissolve. Bubbles will begin appearing on the surface, which tells you the yeast is active and working.

·         Add flour, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, Parmesan cheese, honey, salt and cold water to bowl. Mix ingredients well. NOTE: I started mixing it with a spoon, then switched to using my (clean) hands to mix it up, because it's easier (it's a thick dough). Form dough into a ball, then place on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough out with a rolling pin, smoothing and shaping it into a circle 10" wide.

·         In a separate small bowl or measuring cup, mix together 1/3 cup olive oil and crushed garlic.  Set aside to let flavors "mingle" while you get dough ready.

·         Transfer the dough circle to a large baking sheet or pizza pan (with edges) .  Poke holes in top of the dough using your fingertips. Make deep holes all over the top of the dough, but don't go all the way through to the bottom.

·         Cover top/sides of dough with olive oil/ garlic mixture using spoon and/or pastry brush.  There will be oil that runs off edges onto pan. Scoop it up with a spoon and fill the holes with it. Sprinkle top with chopped fresh thyme (or rosemary, if using). There will STILL be excess oil on pan around bottom of dough. Leave it there! It will absorb into the bread when it bakes, and help to make a nice crust!  Set bread aside, and let dough rise a bit (uncovered) for 30-40 minutes in a warm place, free from drafts. Preheat oven to 400º F. while dough rises.

·         After dough has risen, bake in 400º F. oven for 23-25 minutes, or until bread is evenly browned.  Remove from oven, transfer bread to a wire rack, and let cool 20-25 minutes before serving. To serve, slice in half from left to right, then cut into 2" thick slices from top to bottom.  If desired, serve with dipping sauce of (2 to 1 mix) olive oil and balsamic vinegar OR olive oil and fresh herbs, like thyme, garlic, rosemary. ENJOY!

Recipe Notes

NOTE: Yeast used is equivalent of 2 (¼ ounce) packages OR 4½ teaspoons of bulk dry active yeast.

source : www.thegratefulgirlcooks.com

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