Description
Focaccia from Italy brings rustic charm to your kitchen with its herbal aroma and olive oil-kissed crust. Pillowy texture and golden surface invite diners to savor Mediterranean comfort in each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups hot water
- ½ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup olive oil
Yeast and Sugar:
- 2 (¼-ounce) packets active dry yeast
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Seasoning and Optional Topping:
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 4 tablespoons sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Gently warm milk in a small saucepan or microwave until it reaches a comfortable temperature, ensuring it’s not too hot to kill the yeast.
- Pour the warmed milk into a mixing bowl and sprinkle active dry yeast and a pinch of sugar. Allow the mixture to become frothy and activate, which signals the yeast is alive and ready.
- Heat water to a steamy temperature, being careful not to bring it to a boil. Combine the hot water with olive oil, remaining sugar, and salt in the mixing bowl.
- Gradually incorporate flour into the liquid mixture using a dough hook, mixing until a cohesive, slightly rough dough forms. Continue kneading until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
- Transfer the dough to an oil-coated bowl, ensuring the surface is completely covered. Cover with a clean cloth and let it rest in a warm environment until it expands to nearly double its original size.
- Prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper and dusting lightly with flour. Gently deflate the risen dough and divide it into two equal portions.
- On a floured surface, shape each dough portion into either a long oval or a round loaf. For an oval, fold and roll; for a round, gather the corners toward the center.
- Place the shaped loaves on prepared baking sheets. If desired, brush with water and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Create diagonal slashes across the top of each loaf to allow expansion during baking.
- Allow the loaves to rise again, covering them with a clean towel. They should look slightly puffy and increased in volume.
- Preheat the oven and position racks to ensure even heating. Bake the loaves, rotating midway through to achieve a uniform golden-brown crust.
- Test the bread’s doneness by tapping the bottom – it should sound hollow. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before slicing to preserve the internal texture.
Notes
- Crafting this bread demands patience and precision, transforming simple ingredients into a rustic Italian masterpiece.
- Professional bakers know the secret lies in understanding yeast’s delicate activation and the importance of gentle kneading.
- Temperature control is crucial – warm milk awakens yeast, while precise oven heat creates that perfect golden-brown crust.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 3.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 1 mg