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Focaccia Recipe

2 ¼ cups heat water (about 100F)

2 teaspoons honey

2 ½ teaspoons yeast

5 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus extra

5 cups flour

2.5 teaspoons kosher salt

Toppings (optionally available) 

Mix water, honey, and yeast within the bowl of a stand mixer (or different giant bowl) and let sit for five minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of oil adopted by the flour (correctly measured by spooning the flour right into a dry measuring cup and leveling it off) and salt. Combine on low utilizing the dough hook attachment till simply mixed (alternatively, combine utilizing a picket spoon or your arms). The dough shall be shaggy and sticky. Cowl the combination with a humid fabric and permit it to relaxation for 30-45 minutes (this relaxation permits the flour to soak up the water and for gluten to start growing, which is able to make the kneading course of simpler). After the remainder, combine the dough on low for about 1 minute. 

Generously grease a big container or bowl with olive oil and switch the dough into your chosen vessel. Flip the dough over in order that it’s coated in oil. Cowl and refrigerate for 8-24 hours. 

A couple of hours earlier than you’re able to bake, frivolously butter and generously oil a 13×9 inch baking pan (should you’d like a crispier focaccia, use a baking sheet as a substitute). Take away the dough from the fridge. Utilizing each arms scoop up the center of the dough and stretch it upwards till the ends come free from the container.  Fold the ends underneath the remainder of the dough.  Repeat the stretching and folding course of 2-3 occasions (this video demonstrates this method properly).  This builds a bit of additional power within the dough, gently de-gases it, and provides it a tough form. Switch the dough seam aspect right down to the ready pan. (Should you don’t really feel comfy with the stretch and folding course of or simply don’t really feel prefer it, you may simply scoop the dough into your baking pan of alternative…the distinction shall be pretty negligible.) Stretch the dough barely towards the sides of the pan, however don’t fear if it’s not filling it, it would develop outward in addition to upward because it rises. Cowl and permit the focaccia to rise in a heat spot for about 1.5-2 hours. 

With an oiled finger, gently poke the dough. If it springs again slowly and leaves a small indentation, it’s completely proofed and you may transfer on to the following step. If it springs again rapidly, it’s under-proofed – permit to rise for half an hour longer. If it deflates/doesn’t spring again in any respect, then it’s most likely over-proofed…don’t despair, simply bake as directed and know that the top product could also be a bit denser and flatter than it in any other case would have been, and take a look at once more tomorrow! 

Preheat the oven to 450F. Should you’re utilizing a baking sheet, gently stretch the dough to fill the pan. Utilizing all ten fingers, dimple the bread throughout by poking your fingers almost to the underside of the pan. Drizzle the bread with 3 tablespoons of olive oil and prime as desired. Bake for 20-25 minutes or till the focaccia is pulling away from the edges of the pan and the highest is golden brown and crispy. 

*Should you’d like to make use of this as a pizza base, use a baking sheet and skip the dimpling step. Notice that it’s going to primarily be a thick crust Sicilian/Grandma type pie. For a thinner crust (although nonetheless not tremendous skinny), you may divide the dough between two baking sheets. It seemingly gained’t fill the entire baking sheet, so simply type it into an rectangular form after the rise.

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