Focaccia

Ingredients
Makes three 9-inch Round Pie

Dough

• 2 cups lukewarm water
• 2 tsp active dry yeast or 1 1/4 tsp instant yeast
• 4 1/2 cups unbleached bread flour
• 1 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Spicy oil

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt

In a bowl, whisk all the spicy oil ingredients together. Let it sit at room temperature for 2 hours before using.

Black olive, sliced (optional)


Method

1.  In a large bowl, place the water and yeast, and stir to dissolve. Let it stand for 1 minute.

 2.  Combine the flour, salt, and oil with the yeast mixture until well blended. 
3.   Let the dough rest for 5 minutes.

4.  With oiled hands, stretch and fold the dough in the bowl.

5.  Stretch from one end of the dough, then fold it back onto the top of the dough.

 6.  Stretch from the back end and then from each side, and shape the dough into a ball.

 7.  Cover the bowl and let the dough rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.

8.  Repeat the process 3 more times, completing all repetitions within 30 minutes.

 9.  Cover the bowl, and let the dough rest at room temperature until doubled in volume, about 90 minutes.

10. Oil the pan with olive oil evenly, then transfer about 12oz. (340g) of dough to the pan.

11. Drizzle 1 tsp of olive oil over the top of the dough, then use your fingertips to dimple the dough and cover about 90 percent of the pan.

12. Add the spicy oil mixture during the final dimpling, then let the focaccia rest at room temperature for about 45 minutes.
13. Preheat the oven to 500ºF. Top the focaccia with your choice of toppings.

14. Bake the focaccia for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown.

15. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.