In my last post I featured a recipe for bbq sauce and said that I would write up the recipe and method for the home made foccacia bread too. So, without further ado, here we have the recipe for home made foccacia bread…

Home Made Foccacia Recipe

The Foccacia Bread

• 1kg strong plain flour
• 1 x 7g sachet dried yeast
• 5g table salt
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

To top the bread

(mix these together prior to making the bread itself – they need to be softened in a small saucepan on a low heat for 20-30 minutes)

• 1 finely sliced onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 5 cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 tbsp olive oil

Method

• Mix the dry ingredients, making sure not to get salt on the yeast
• Add the olive oil and enough warm water to form a dough
• Knead on a floured surface for about 10 minutes (or use a dough hook if you’re lucky enough to have an electric mixer with this functionality) until the dough is smooth and elastic
• Put the dough into a large bowl. Cover with cling film and leave to rise for at least an hour or two – until it has at least doubled in size
• Punch the dough down and knead again until it is back to the original size
• Roll out into a rectangular shape, about the size of an A4 sheet of paper and an inch or so thick
• Place on a baking tray and brush with oil (you can also sprinkle on some semolina, but this is optional) and spread the softened onion, garlic, herbs and oil mix over the top
• Loosely cover with cling film and leave to prove again for at least 30 minutes
• Bake in a pre heated oven at 200 celcius for 30 minutes or until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when the bottom is tapped

Enjoy your foccacia bread with a filling or some dipping oil and a sense of satisfaction that you made your own Italian foccacia bread. Simple!