FOCACCIA BREAD

By es123

Focaccia bread is an Italian flat bread. It is great with pasta or as a side to a main course, makes a wonderful appetizer, is good with soups and salads or hot right from the oven.

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups warm water
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Garlic Salt
• Parmesan Cheese
• Dried Italian Seasoning

Preparation

Step 1

Combine warm water, yeast and sugar and put in a warm place for about 20 minutes until yeast is bubbling.

In a large bowl combine flour, 1/2 cup of the olive oil, salt, and the yeast mixture and mix with a wooden spoon.

Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead until it comes together and not sticky. You can add extra flour if needed at this point.

Take 1/4 of the 1/2 cup of olive oil you have left and pour into the bowl you are going to use for the dough to rise.

Place the dough in the bowl rubbing with the olive oil and turn so both sides with be coated with the oil. Cover with a dish towel or plastic wrap and put in a warm place for 2 hours until doubled in size.

Once the dough rises, punch it down, pour the other 1/4 cup olive oil on a long baking sheet with about one inch sides. Place the dough on the sheet and turn so oil with get to both sides. Take both hands and spread the dough to cover the sheet while making holes all the way through the dough with your fingers.

Sprinkle the dough with olive oil, garlic salt, parmesan cheese, and italian seasoning. (You can use what you like on this bread such as olive oil, rosemary, sage, sea salt or even meat and veggies).

Let the dough rise in a warm place again for 1 hour. Bake at 425 degrees for about 25 minutes until golden brown. Let cool about five minutes.

Enjoy!
Note: This is good for sandwiches, too.