How to make Focaccia easily at home

    Focaccia is a flat Italian bread product baked in oven. Its texture is almost similar to that of a pizza dough. Its light and airy. Its topped with olives and rosemary. Lets have a look on how to bake this one.

Ingredients:

For Dough:

• Maida - 250 gm
• Warm water - 150 to 160 ml
• Powdered sugar - 15 gm
• Instant yeast - 8 gm
• Granulated sugar - 1 tsp
• Salt - 5 gm
• Olive oil - 1 tbsp

For Topping:

• Pitted Black olives - 5 pieces
• Rosemary - few pinches
• Cherry Tomato - small pieces (optional)
• Olive oil - 2 tbsp  
• Water - for sprinkling

Preparation:

• In a bowl add yeast along with 1 tsp granulated sugar and half quantity of warm water. Here its 75 ml to 80 ml. Mix well and let it rest for 5 mins. It will become lightly frothy.
• Take a big bowl and add maida, powdered sugar, milk powder and salt. Mix well.
• Add the yeast mixture slowly to the maida mixture and mix well.
• Once everything is combined well transfer them into a hard surface like kitchen counter.
• Keep on kneading for 7 to 10 mins or till it becomes elastic. At this stage add butter and knead again till the butter is combined well.
• You can stop kneading when the dough is soft and bounce back lightly when you touch it.
• Tuck in the dough with both hands towards the bottom to make a round shape.
• Dust a big bowl with some maida or spread some oil in the bowl and place the dough.
• Keep closed with a wet towel or cling wrap. Keep it aside for minimum 45 mins for proofing.
• After 45 mins the dough will double in size. Just punch it gently twice to release the air.
• Take it out onto to a flat surface. Flatten it to the size of your pan.
• Brush the bread pan with some oil and place the dough into it.
• Slightly press to level. Make holes in the dough with the finger.
• Place halved olives in to that holes.
• You may also add tomato slices if needed.
• Cover it with a cling wrap and keep aside for 30 to 35 min.
• After 30 min it will rise.
• Pour 2 tbsp of olive oil over the dough and spread well.
• Sprinkle the rosemary over the dough.
• Sprinkle some water.
• Preheat the oven for 10 mins at 180 to 200 degree.
• Place the focaccia inside the oven and bake for 15 min.
• When the focaccia is done its surface will become light brown color.
• Brush the top of the baked focaccia with butter.
• Let it cool down before cutting.

Notes:

• The amount of water to be added varies with the flour used. Do not add water more than 160 ml in total for the given measurement.
• If you dont have milk powder you can add milk. For that reduce the quantity of water and use milk. Use equal parts of water and milk. Here it will be 80 ml milk and 80 ml water.
• This focaccia is mildly sweet. If you want more sweetness add more powdered sugar.