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FOCACCIA RECIPE
The Classic Italian Flatbread with Tomato, Capers & Olives
Ingredients: Dough
8 ounces - Potatoes, preferably yellow Finnish
1 1/4 teaspoons -
Active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons - Warm water (105-115° F)
3 3/4 cups
- Durum flour or unbleached all-purpose
flour (If using unbleached flour, reduce water by 2 tablespoons).
2 teaspoons
- Sea salt
Ingredients: Topping
2-3 tablespoons - Olive oil
1 large - Ripe tomato, cut into small pieces
2 teaspoons - Capers packed in salt, rinsed
1/2 teaspoon - Sea salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon - Dried oregano
Preparation:
About 20 minutes before you are ready to make
the dough, peel the
potatoes and boil them until tender, drain, and
mash or press them,
through a ricer. Use the potatoes while they
are still warm but not so
hot as to kill the yeast; they should be about
the same temperature as
the yeast water.
Stir the yeast into the warm water in a large
mixing bowl. Add the
flour, mashed potatoes, and salt in two additions
and mix until the
dough comes together. If you are making this
by hand, knead the dough
for 10 minutes until the dough is velvety, firm
and slightly sticky. You
may want to spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of flour
on the board to reduce
the stickiness.
FIRST RISE
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover
tightly with plastic
wrap, and leave to rise until doubled, about
1 1/2 hours.
SHAPING AND SECOND RISE
Divide the dough in half on a lightly floured
surface, and shape each
into a ball. Place each ball into a well-oiled
9-inch round baking pan,
and stretch the dough toward the edges. Cover
with a damp towel, let sit
for ten minutes, and then stretch a bit farther
to the edges. Cover
again and leave until doubled, about 45 minutes.
BAKING
Preheat the over to 400°
F. Just before
you are ready to bake,
dimple to dough with your fingertips. Sprinkle
the olive oil and
distribute the tomatoes, capers, salt and oregano
over the dough. Bake
for 25 to 30 minutes until golden. Remove from
pans and let cool on racks.
Experiment with your own favorite toppings!
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