Focaccia With Zucchini, Zucchini Blossoms, Ricotta Cheese & Olives

By CheeseDiva

Ingredients

• Cheese Mixture:
• 5 Cups All-purpose Unbleached Flour
• 2 Teaspoons Instant Active Dry Yeast
• 2 – 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Plus 2 Additional Tablespoons To Oil Bowl)
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• 2 Cups Warm Water
• 1 (8 Ounce) Container Ricotta Cheese
• 1/3 Cup Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese
• 1/2 Teaspoon Finely Chopped Fresh Thyme
• 1/4 Cup Finely Chopped Fresh Parsley
• Salt & Pepper To Taste
• Other Toppings:
• 3 Small Zucchini, Finely Sliced
• 8 Zucchini Flowers, Cleaned, & Cut In Half
• 3/4 Cup Taggiasca or Kalamata Olives
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Coarse Sea Salt

Details

Servings 10
Preparation time 110mins
Cooking time 135mins
Adapted from italianfoodforever.com

Preparation

Step 1

Measure and assemble your flour, oil, salt, yeast, and water.

Add everything but the water into a large bowl and stir.

Add half the water and stir.

Continue to add water until the dough begins to come together into a shaggy ball.

Dump the dough mixture onto a lightly floured surface and begin to knead with the heels of your hand.

Knead for about 5 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and pliant.

Add a little oil (2 tablespoons) to the bottom of a large bowl and place your ball of dough inside.

Roll the ball of dough around in the oil ensuring the sides of the bowl and ball of dough are both lightly oiled.

Cover your bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot to rise.

(I cover mine with a kitchen towel on top of the plastic wrap and sit it on a large sunny windowsill.)

Let the dough rise until it is doubled in size, about an hour or an hour and a half depending on ambient temperature.

Lightly oil a 13 x 9 inch baking sheet with sides.

Dump your risen dough into the pan punching it down to deflate it.

Use your fingers to push and press the dough evenly over the bottom of the pan.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Mix together the ingredients for the cheese mixture.

Use a tablespoon to drop spoonfuls of the cheese mixture evenly over the top of the dough.

Scatter the zucchini and zucchini flowers evenly across the top of the focaccia, then arrange olives.

Drizzle olive oil over the top.

Sprinkle coarse sea salt over the top of your focaccia, and let it sit to rise again for 15 minutes.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown, then cool to room temperature before slicing.