FANCY FOCCACIA BREAD

I love Foccacia Bread...All of my favorite Italian restaurants always seem to serve little squares of it in their bread baskets and I look forward to it...and always end up filling up on it!!...I have made it in the past but I wanted to make this one a little different...A little fancier if you will...I have been seeing Foccacia  breads decorated with veggies lately and I wanted to give it a try...This bread starts out making a dough starter the day before to use in it.....You can decorate and season this the way you like...You can also make it in a different pan if you choose...The choice is yours...But here is how I make mine...Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

STARTER

This can be made 12 to 24 hours before you use it

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup lukewarm water

1/4 teaspoon instant yeast

DOUGH RECIPE

3 2/3 Cups plus 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cup lukewarm water

1 3/4 teaspoons instant yeast

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon sugar

Plus your dough starter

Seasoning for top of dough

1/4 Olive oil

4 cloves garlic minced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dry rosemary

parmesan cheese

Veggies of your choice for decorating

DIRECTIONS

To make your starter add the 3 ingredients together and mix until smooth...It should look like pancake batter consistency it is ready to use in 12 hours, but can be used later

When you are ready to make your dough add lukewarm water along with yeast, sugar and olive oil ...stir and set aside....add the flour and salt to stand mixer with dough hook.....give a stir and then slowly add yeast mixture...mix ...then add dough starter.and mix 

until sticky dough forms...add dough to lightly floured surface...knead a few times and add dough to oiled bowl...cover with plastic wrap and a towel and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours

Once dough is double in size ...punch down and add dough to your oiled pan patting and spreading until even and size you like...cover with towel and let rise a second time until puffy about 1 hour

Preheat Oven to 450 then lower to 400 degrees for baking

Once dough has risen for second time brush with seasoned olive oil the sprinkle with parmesan cheese....then decorate with veggies of your choice

Bake at 400 for 25 minutes or until golden brown

Preview your design on another baking sheet before adding to dough

dough after second rise before decorating

olive oil mixture

FANCY FOCCACIA BREAD

Yield: 12

Author: Natalie Buscemi-Hindman

This foccacia bread begins with a starter you make ahead of time,,,and you have the option to be creative and decorate it with veggies of your choice

Ingredients:

STARTER RECIPE

• 1/2 Cup All purpose flour
• 1/2 Cup Lukewarm water
• 1/4 teaspoon Yeast
• Mix this together cover with plastic wrap and set on counter for at least 12 hours

DOUGH RECIPE

• 3 2/3 Cups plus 2 Tablespoons  All Purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 Cups lukewarm water
• 1 3/4 teaspoons Instant yeast
• 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon Sugar
• Plus your dough starter
• Veggies of your choice for decorating

Olive oil seasoning for top of dough

• 1/4 Cup Olive oil
• 4 Cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon or more dry Rosemary
• Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. When you are ready to make your dough add lukewarm water along with yeast, olive oil and sugar to cup...stir and set aside
2. Add flour and salt to stand mixer with dough hook attachment ...give a stir then slowly add yeast and water mixture...mix then add dough starter and mix until sticky dough forms
3. Remove dough and add to lightly floured surface..knead a few times then add dough to oiled bowl ..flip dough over to coat other side...cover bowl with plastic wrap then a towel and keep in a warm place to rise about 1-2 hours until it doubles in size
4. Once dough is risen...punch down and add dough to a well oiled pan...I used a baking sheet but you can also split dough and add to smaller pans a round one is also okay to use..pat dough into pan evenly  and cover with a towel to rise again until puffy...about 1 hour
5. Preheat oven to 450...then turn down to 400 degrees before baking
6. Once dough is risen in pan brush with seasoned olive oil all over ...then sprinkle with Parmesen cheese
7. You can now decorate with your veggies I did this in a separate pan  ahead of time to get my pattern situated and preview...then place it on the dough...When it is to your liking, place pan in oven and bake...checking after 20-25 minutes...cook until golden brown on top and bottom

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