Exploring Focaccia
That word is almost as hard to pronounce as Worcestershire sauce. Read: “foh-kah-chya”. Unlike worcestershire however, focaccia sounds appealing at any time of day. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you name it.
We all remember when covid began, and seemingly the entire country began baking sourdough bread. If you’re a bit burnt out now, over a year later, you’ll be glad to know that this versatile bread is shockingly simple to master.
The basic dough contains just six ingredients! Active dry yeast, flour, water, sugar or honey, olive oil, and salt. The secret to it’s fluffy moistness is the shaping method used.
Once the dough has risen, spread it flat on a baking sheet, and let rise again for 20 minutes. Then use your fingertips to create dimples in the dough, and drizzle a layer of olive oil on top of it to be absorbed while baking.
Dress it up
Focaccia is meant to be kept light, and flat. Simple traditional toppings placed before baking include: olives, tomatoes, caramelized onions, fresh rosemary, and mushrooms. These are delicious to serve as a side to a salad, or soup.
Cut them into squares, strips, or triangles, whichever fits your current meal aesthetic best! You can also try adding these to a bread basket, or charcuterie board for a lavish uplifted look. People will think you’re quite fancy.
You can also go the extra mile and make your focaccia the star of your meal! See below for our favorite topping inspo.
- Pesto and Goat Cheese
- Margherita Pizza
- Cheesy Garlic and Herb
- Pulled Pastrami
- White Focaccia with Alfredo Sauce and Shredded Mozzarella
- Breakfast Focaccia Topped with Scrambled Eggs
- Fig, Balsamic, and Caramelized Onion Focaccia
- Sweet Focaccia with Figs, Plums, and Sliced Hazelnuts
- Classic Garlic Focaccia eaten along side Creamy Pesto Shakshuka
Make it a kiddy activity!
Bring your babies into the kitchen to partake in some focaccia art! Use herbs and vegetables to create the look of a floral garden. Herb stems and leaves can make long branches and thinly cut yellow peppers can create the look of a sunflower. Get creative! Slice cherry tomatoes, baby pepper rings, shallots, capers, anything you can use to “draw” your scene on top of a sheet of dough.
Best part of all this? You can devour it 20 minutes later.
