Tuesday, March 21, 2023, 07:04 AM
It focaccia it is, gastronomically speaking, one of the greatest works of art of Italian gastronomy. Despite its international popularity, which eclipses pizza, this Italian bread is a real delicacy that is consumed every day in the Alpine country, and which we certainly tried during one of our trips to Italy. Focaccia This bread can be described as a flat and not too thick type, large in size and whose emphasis is in the crumb. This one, full of air “bubbles”, is juicy and soft, halfway between smooth and tender. Its crust, on the other hand, is crunchy and firm.
types of focaccia
The most common are the savory versions, the most common being olive oil focaccia with some aromatic herbs (usually rosemary) to which black or green olives are usually added. This bread is also commonly found and eaten sundried or cherry tomato-style and/or with cheeses (mainly mozzarella or burrata, blue cheese, feta and goat cheese varieties). Let’s not forget about vegetables, the most common of which are onions and peppers. nor animal protein, with anchovies and sausages (ham, bacon, sausage…) gaining popularity.
The recipe for garlic focaccia with tomatoes, cheese and olives
Ingredients
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450 grams of wheat flour
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2 teaspoons of salt
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1 teaspoon of sugar
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1 tablespoon of soluble yeast
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1/2 cup of lukewarm water
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1/4 cup olive oil
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3 cloves of garlic, minced
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1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
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1 cup of grated mozzarella cheese
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1/2 cup pitted black olives
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Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Processing
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1:
Mix flour, salt, sugar and yeast. Add the warm water and olive oil and mix until you have a smooth, elastic dough.
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2:
Cover the dough with a damp cloth and leave it in a warm place for 1 hour until it doubles in size.
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3:
Heat the oven to 200 degrees. Mix the minced garlic with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
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4:
Grease the baking tray with olive oil and stretch the dough evenly on it. Poke holes in the dough with your fingers and sprinkle the garlic mixture over the surface.
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5:00
Put cherry tomatoes, olives and grated cheese on the dough. Season to taste.
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6:00
Bake the focaccia for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and crisp around the edges.
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7:00
Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving warm.
What is the origin of focaccia?
Focaccia comes from ancient Rome, where they made a salty flatbread called panis focacius. In the Middle Ages, it became a popular bread among the peasants of Italy and was baked in the communal ovens of the villages. In the Liguria region, focaccia became a staple of the local diet and was prepared with olive oil and coarse salt.
Over time, other ingredients such as herbs and tomatoes were added. Today, focaccia can be found in many varieties and is used in everything from appetizers to accompaniments to main courses. It is also popular as an aperitif in Italy and around the world.