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Ingredients
- 3 cups All purpose flour
- 3 tablespoon Olive oil
- 2-1/4 teaspoon Active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- 2 tablespoon Italian Herb Seasoning
- 1.5 teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Warm Water (divided)
- 2 tablespoon All purpose flour - to finish the dough
- 2 teaspoon Dried Rosemary
- 2 teaspoon Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoon Coarsely crushed black peppercorns
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
Preparation
Step 1
Assemble ingredients for the dough.
Warm water.
In 1/4 cup of tap water, dissolve sugar and yeast and let it sit for 10-15 minutes or until frothy and thick.
Yeast will look like this. If your yeast fails this step - please discard the yeast and start all over again. Do not proceed to the next step or you will end up with dense and sticky bread.
Combine all the ingredients mentioned under "Dough Ingredients" (except 2 tablespoon flour mentioned at the last) in a big bowl.
Pour in activated yeast and the remaining 3/4 cup of water to knead a dough. Cover the bowl loosely with wet towel. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 1-2 hour.
The dough will double in size and look like this - all fluffy and airy.
Poke a finger in the dough and make a indent (or a small hole with your finger) in the dough. If the hole/indent remains and the dough doesn't bounces back that means dough is ready for the next step.
Remove the dough from the bowl dust it with some flour and start kneading the dough. This step is necessary – if the dough is not kneaded well, bread will turn out dense. Dough elasticity and gluten formation is enhanced by kneading.
Punch it, squeeze it, and knead the dough for 10 minutes. Make a smooth ball.
Grease a baking tray and transfer dough onto that baking tray. Stretch the dough to fit the entire pan. Cover and let it sit for another 20 - 40 minutes. Preheat oven @400 degree F.
Meanwhile assemble ingredients for the topping.
Uncover the dough and using your finger or spoon poke holes or make wells all over the dough.
Sprinkle black pepper...
Sprinkle rosemary and Parmesan cheese.
Drizzle olive oil all over the dough.
Place it in the warm oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown in color.
Beautifully baked focaccia bread.
Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before cutting and serving.
Light, airy and fluffy focaccia bread is ready. Serve it with a steaming bowl of your favorite soup and enjoy, or dip this bread by dipping it in olive oil- parmesan – black pepper mixture. Super yummy! !!