Baking and Pastry
- Bake Bread Basics
- Pastries And Pies
- 4.1Basics of pastry making
- 4.2Types of pastry: Shortcrust, Puff & Filo
- 4.3Making Quiche and Tarts
- 4.4Making Sweet Pies (Apple pie)
- 4.5Making Savory pies (Chicken pot pie)
- 4.6Making Choux pastry & Cream puffs
- 4.7Making Éclairs and Profiteroles
- 4.8Specialty Pastry: Mille Feuille
- 4.9Flaky Pie Crusts: Tips and Techniques
- 4.10Creative Pie Decoration Techniques
- Cakes & Cupcakes
- Cookies & Small Bites
- 10.1Cookie Baking Basics
- 10.2Classic Almond Biscotti
- 10.3Making Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 10.4Nutty Walnut Cookies
- 10.5Making Sugar Cookies and Decorating with Royal Icing
- 10.6Making Macarons
- 10.7Making Petit Fours
- 10.8Specialty Cookies: French Madeleines
- 10.9Specialty Cookies: Italian Amaretti
- 10.10Packaging & Presentation of Cookies and Small Bites
Bake Bread Basics
Mastering Focaccia: An Introduction to Italian Breads
Oven-baked Italian flat bread, sometimes filled in with other ingredients.
Focaccia is a flat oven-baked Italian bread that is similar in style and texture to pizza dough. It is a staple in Italian cuisine and is enjoyed by bread lovers worldwide. This lesson will guide you through the process of making classic Focaccia, and introduce you to the variations of Focaccia with different toppings.
The Basics of Focaccia
Focaccia is a versatile bread that can be served as a side dish, sandwich bread, or even as a base for pizza. The dough is flavored with olive oil, and it's typically topped with coarse salt, rosemary, and other herbs. The bread is known for its characteristic chewy texture and is usually baked in a flat sheet pan.
Ingredients
The basic ingredients for Focaccia are simple and include:
- Strong white bread flour
- Dry yeast
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Warm water
Making Classic Focaccia
Here is a step-by-step guide to making classic Focaccia:
-
Prepare the Dough: Combine the flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl. Add warm water and olive oil, and mix until a dough forms.
-
Knead the Dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
-
First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
-
Shape the Dough: After the dough has risen, punch it down and transfer it to a greased baking sheet. Stretch and pat the dough into a rectangle, about 1/2 inch thick.
-
Second Rise: Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise again for about 20 minutes.
-
Preheat the Oven: While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).
-
Add Toppings: Before baking, dimple the surface of the dough with your fingertips, drizzle it with olive oil, and sprinkle it with coarse salt and rosemary.
-
Bake: Bake the Focaccia in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until it's golden brown.
Variations of Focaccia
Focaccia is a versatile bread that can be topped with a variety of ingredients. Some popular variations include:
- Focaccia al rosmarino: This is the most traditional version of Focaccia, topped with rosemary and coarse salt.
- Focaccia con cipolle: This version is topped with caramelized onions.
- Focaccia con pomodorini: This Focaccia is topped with cherry tomatoes and oregano.
By mastering the art of Focaccia, you'll be able to bring a piece of Italy into your kitchen. Enjoy the process and the delicious results!