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Sometimes I just need some bread to go with my meal!  Not healthy bread, just good, soft, warm, fresh bread.  When I am in this mood one of the recipes I turn to is for my easy focaccia.  Now, there are better recipes for focaccia, but they take hours to make.  This bread can be made, from start to finish in an hour and a half, that’s not bad for focaccia bread!

I like my bread to have flavor so I have added some Italian seasoning and garlic to the dough, and fresh rosemary and parmesan on top, but you could make it plain too.  I love how this bread tastes special and fancy, but really it is very basic.  If you haven’t done much with yeast bread from scratch this one is a good place to start!

 

Easy Focaccia

Adapted from AllRecipes

  • 3 cups all purpose flour*
  • 3 Tbs. Vital Wheat Gluten Flour*
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 1 Tbs. Italian seasoning
  • 2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 Tbs. sugar
  • 1 Tbs. yeast
  • 1 1/3 cup warm water
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, divided
  • flour for dusting and kneading
  • 3 Tbs. fresh rosemary, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • *this could be replaced with bread flour

In a large bowl mix together the flour, wheat gluten, salt, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.  Once combined make a well in the flour and add the sugar and yeast to the well.  Pour the water in the well and let stand for about 5 minutes, or until the yeast begins to act.  Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the well and stir until the liquid and the flour are combined.

Lightly flour your clean counter and knead the dough, adding flour as needed, until it is soft and not sticky, about 3 minutes.  (This could be done in a stand mixer, but it is so quick and easy I tend to just do it by hand.)  Add 1 tsp. of olive oil to a clean medium sized bowl.  Place the dough in the bowl and turn it in the oil to cover.  Place a towel over the bowl and set it in a warm part of the house.  Let it raise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

Once the dough has risen, punch it down.  Place 1 tsp. of olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet.  Cover the sheet with the oil evenly.  Place the dough on the sheet and stretch to fit the pan.  Spread 2 teaspoons of oil on top of the dough and then sprinkle with rosemary and parmesan cheese.  Place the dough in a cold oven on the center shelf and place a pan of hot water on the shelf below.  Let raise in the oven for 25 minutes.

Remove the dough from the oven and preheat to 375 degrees.  Once the oven has reached it’s temperature place the dough back in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until light brown.  Cool on a wire rack and serve warm!