Quick Focaccia

I wanted a quick focaccia bread to go with soup. I made this one!

Ingredients:

Bread:

• .25 cup warm water heat
• .5 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons yeast
• 8 ounces sourdough starter (or 4 more ounces each of water and flour)
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 3/4 cups all purpose flour (3. 4 ounces, or 96 grams)
• .75 teaspoon kosher salt

Topping:

• 2 ounces mozzeralla cheese, shredded or 1 tablespoon grated parmesan
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• .25 teaspoon salt
• .25 teaspoon black pepper
• .5 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
• 1 tablespoon freshly chopped rosemary (optional)

Instructions:

1. Stir together the warm water, sugar, and yeast in a stand mixer bowl.
2. Let the yeast rest until foamy, about 5 minutes.
   (I used the time to measure out the other ingredients.)
3. Add sourdough starter and olive oil to yeast mixture, mix in at low speed.
4. Add the flour and .75 teaspoon of salt, and mix until combined and then the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
5. (If you want a rosemary bread, add in 1 teaspoon of chopped rosemary as well.)
6. Preheat oven to 200 degrees to warm it up for proofing the bread quickly. 
7. Grease a cast iron skillet or 8 - 9" cake pan with .5 tablespoon of olive oil.
8. Pour/dump the dough into the skillet.
9. Using greased hands, press the dough evenly across the bottom of the skillet. Cover with a clean towel.
10. TURN OFF THE OVEN!
11. Put the skillet in warm oven for 20 minutes to rise.
12. Remove the skillet from the oven, remove the towel.
13. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
14. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper, garlic powder, (chopped rosemary if using), and parmesan if using.
15. Dimble the top of the bread with your fingers.
16. Brush the olive oil mixture over the dough.
17. Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.
18. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden.
19. Cool slightly and serve!

 

Carole's Notes:

We liked this! It went nicely with the kielbasa, bean, and veggie soup for dinner.

We also like it with some Italian mix ins - 6 or 8 diced green olives, 4 or 6 diced marinated artichoke chunks, and a tablespoon of sun-dried tomatoes,

The recipe is lightly adapted from https://flavorthemoments.com/one-hour-rosemary-focaccia-bread/