Best Italian Focaccia Bread Recipes

ITALIAN GARLIC AND HERB SEASONED PANINI - FOCACCIA BREAD (ABM)

Steps:

• Prior to placing ingredients in breadmaker, fill the container with water.
• It needs to accomodate at least 11 cups of water.
• If it has that capacity, you can dump the water out and proceed.
• The dough makes a large amount and does rise to the top of the container.
• Place all ingredients in bread machine in order suggested by the manufacturer.
• If desired, you can hold off placing the herbs into the machine and wait until forming the loaves to place on top of bread.
• Set machine to dough cycle.
• When cycle is complete, punch dough down and knead a few times on a lightly floured surface (the dough should remain somewhat sticky).
• Place dough in oiled bowl, turn to coat with the oil, cover, and allow to rise again until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Ten minutes prior to rising is finished preheat oven to 400°F Lightly grease two baking sheets (I line them with Silpat sheets).
• After dough has risen the second time, press air out and divide dough in half (dough will still be sticky, do not use more flour).
• Press (using your hands) each half with a light touch into approximately an 8 x 11-inch rectangle on the individual prepared pans (rustic looking is okay, but don't press too flat).
• Brush with olive oil.
• If you haven't already added the herbs into the dough, scatter garlic, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, peppers, and parsley over surface of each and press lightly.
• Sprinkle with salt.
• Bake about 20-30 minutes or until a light golden.
• Serve warm or slice to use for a panini sandwich and grill.
• *Notethat preparation time doesn't include about 3 hours of rising time.

EASY ITALIAN FOCACCIA BREAD FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• 1. DO NOT PREHEAT OVEN. In a large stoneware bowl, stir flours and salt. Make a well in the center, sprinkle sugar and yeast into well. Carefully pour water into well & let stand till yeast begins to act, about 5 minutes.
• 2. Pour 2 tablespoons oil into the well. With a wooden spoon stir the mixture in center of bowl, gradually widening the circle of stirring to take in all of the flour on the sides. Turn out on floured surface and knead just till smooth. Divide in half. Pour 1/2 teaspoon of oil into two clean bowls, place dough in bowls, turning once to coat. Cover and let rise until doubled.
• 3. Punch dough down. Use 1 teaspoon oil to coat a baking sheet and place dough on the center. Gently press the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness. Pour 1 1/2 teaspoons oil over the top of the dough. Use the handle end of a wooden spoon or your fingers to "dimple" the dough at 1 1/2 inch intervals. Sprinkle with rosemary or basil and then cheese. Place in a COLD oven on center shelf. Place a flat pan of very hot water on the shelf below the bread. Let rise until doubled.
• 4. Turn on oven to 375° and bake 20-25 minutes or until browned on top. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack. Makes 2 very large loaves

FOCACCIA FARCITA (FILLED ITALIAN HEARTH BREAD)

Steps:

• Sprinkle yeast into 200ml of the water in a bowl.
• Let sit 5 mins; stir to dissolve.
• Mix about 3/4 of the flour with salt together in a large bowl.
• Make a well in the centre and pour in the yeasted water and olive oil.
• Mix in the flour.
• Stir in remaining water to make a sticky dough, using a wooden spoon.
• Add the remaining flour, if needed, 1 tablespoon at a time, to form a knead-able dough.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
• Knead until smooth, silky and elastic, about 10mins.
• (you can add more flour if necessary, 1 tablespoon at a time) Put the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap/tea towel.
• Leave to rise until doubled, 1 1/2- 2 hours.
• Knock back and divide the dough into 2 equal pieces.
• Chafe for 5 minutes.
• Chafing: Form each piece into a ball by cupping your hands gently around it.
• Apply a light, downwards pressure to the sides, while simultaneously rotating the dough in a steady, clockwise motion.
• Continue until the dough forms an even, round shape.
• This action is called CHAFING.
• Leave to rest 10 minutes.
• Roll out each piece of dough into a 9 inch round.
• Place one round on an oiled baking sheet.
• Arrange the cheeses and basil on top, then seal the filling using the second round.
• Cover the dough loosely with a tea towel.
• Prove until doubled, about 30 minutes.
• Using your fingertips, lightly press into the surface of the dough to form dimples about 1/2 inch deep.
• Sprinkle with coarse salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• Top with rosemary sprigs.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F/200°C for 30-45mins until golden.
• Drizzle immediately with remaining olive oil, and serve warm.
• Variation- use 1 lb cherry tomatoes (drizzle with 1 TB olive oil, season with salt and pepper, then bake at 400°F for 20 mins), 5 oz mozzarella and 4 oz rocket (arugula) as filling.

ITALIAN PAN BREAD AKA FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Add all dry ingredients to a mixer bowl or to a food processor with bread attachment in place.
• Mix dry ingredients on low speed for about two minutes.
• Measure out warm water and oil into a bowl or measuring cup and at both to the dry as it mixes for another two minutes on low speed.
• After two minutes increase your mixers speed to medium for another six minutes.
• Dust counter top with flour, on the counter form dough in to a ball and let it proof covered for about 10 minutes.
• Spray the edges of your baking sheet, place baking paper on surface without allow any wrinkles, and sprinkle evenly with corn meal.
• After the dough has proofed for ten minutes spank it flat to force out any air bubbles.
• Place dough on baking sheet and roll out until it is about an inch thick or until it is an inch from all sides of the sheet.
• Poke the surface of the dough with your finger creating little craters.
• Brush with olive oil and place in the oven at the lowest setting along with a bowl of water.
• Let dough rest and rise for twenty minutes.
• Turn oven up to 400 degrees.
• Bake bread for about twenty minutes.
• You can test for doneness by measuring the internal temperature.
• Once it reaches about 190 degrees it is done.

SPICY ITALIAN FOCACCIA BREAD FOR BREAD MACHINE

Steps:

• Mix together dry ingredients in a bowl, stir till well combined. Place water and olive oil in bread pan, add yeast and dissolve. Now add dry ingredients to bread pan. Put machine on DOUGH ONLY cycle.
• While dough is working, place about 4 tbsp of olive oil in small pan with a couple cloves of garlic that have been smashed and turn on lowest setting. Allow to warm for a few minutes. Set aside. You will use half of this in a 11x13 baking dish, be sure to rub or brush bottom and sides of dish. Then reserve the other half to brush on top of dough once it is in baking pan.
• Once machine is done and dough has rested and risen, remove from pan and place in prepared baking dish. Spread dough out with fingers to fit in bottom of dish. Make indentations dough with fingertips. Drizzle remaining garlic infused olive oil over top of dough and spread out with hands or a brush. Sprinkle on any or all of the following: grated parmesan, red pepper flakes, poppy seeds, or create your own toppings.
• Bake 400° for 22-25 min. Once you remove bread from oven sprinkle a little more parmesan on top and some coarse sea salt if desired.

ITALIAN FOCACCIA BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Place about 1 cup of flour in the bowl of your stand mixer, equipped with the dough hook. Add the yeast and water. Mix with the dough hook for 30 seconds, or until yeast is dissolved and the ingredients begin to combine.
• 2. Add the rest of the 3 cups of flour, sugar, salt, dough conditioner, and 2 tablespoons olive oil and continue mixing at medium speed for at least 4 minutes (to develop the gluten). The dough should clear the sides of the the bowl but stick to the bottom. Dough for ciabatta and focaccia should be slightly wetter than most breads. If you feel the dough is too moist, add 1-2 tablespoons additional flour. Once the dough is mixed, move the dough to a large greased bowl, turn once to coat both sides, and cover with plastic wrap.
• 3. Refrigerate overnight or up to 3 days. On the day that you are going to bake your bread, measure 1/3 cup olive oil and stir in the basil, oregano and garlic powder. Set aside to steep.
• 4. Remove the dough from refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for about 3 hours. The dough should rise to nearly double in this time. Once it has risen, coat your hands with flour and lightly dust a work area on the countertop. Holding the dough in your hands, allow the weight of the dough to stretch out the dough until it is about 1 inch thick.
• 5. Lay it on the the dusted countertop and fold the ends over itself like you would a letter. Lightly dust the top with flour and cover with plastic wrap. Let double again in size, about 1 hour.
• 6. Prepare a 15 inch pizza pan or baking sheet by greasing the surface and dusting with cornmeal. Once the dough has doubled, move it to the prepared pan. Using your fingertips, dimple and spread the dough, then spoon the oil and herb mixture over the dough. Then sprinkl with kosher salt, cover again loosely with plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• 7. Preheat oven to 435-degrees. Place a large, flat metal pan on the bottom rack of the oven to be used to hold water and with which to create steam and condition the crust. Do not use a glass or ceramic pan.
• 8. immediately before placing the bread in the oven, mist the sides of the oven using a spray mister and then pour 2 cups of very hot water into the steam pan.
• 9. Place bread in the oven and quickly close the door to retain steam, at the end of 15 minutes lover oven to 350-degrees and bake for another 10 minutes or until crust is golden brown and the bread tests done. Bread will test done when the interior temperature reach 210-degrees.
• 10. Immediately remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese while the bread is still hot. Unused focaccia should be stored in a paper bag at room temperature.
• 11. *Available online at www.preparedpantry.com

ITALIAN FLAT BREAD (FOCACCIA)

Steps:

• Pre-Heat oven to 425 In a medium bowl, combine all spices, mayo and cheese. Mixture should resemble a thick paste. Spread mixture over the pizza crust and bake for 20 min or to pizza crust packaging recommendation. Slice and serve