Foccacia

Today am back with a baking recipe.  I know I haven't been regular with my baking recipes.  Also, pl do forgive me for the long gaps that come in between posts.  There are so many other commitments that I have to attend to, this has taken a back seat and I don’t like it one bit..  It's not that I haven't been cooking, but it's just that I haven't been able to go with the whole process of clicking and writing out a post.  So like I said, today is a recipe for bread lovers.  This is how my recipe for this yummylicious bread goes.

INGREDIENTS:

Flour	210 gms
Fresh rosemary	2-3 sprigs
Yeast	10 gms
Lukewarm water	150 ml
Salt	1 tsp
Olive oil	50 ml
Freshly ground pepper	1/8 tsp
Onion	1 small (thinly sliced)
Capsicum	Half (thinly sliced)

METHOD:

1.       In a small bowl, soak the yeast in about 50 ml of lukewarm water.  Keep it covered for 5-10 minutes.  Let it froth up.

2.       Take the rosemary off the stalks and put 2/3 of it on the chopping board and chop them fine.  Reserving the remaining for the topping.

3.       Put the flour onto the work surface, mix salt and incorporate well with the flour.  Make a well in the centre of the flour and add the chopped rosemary, dissolved yeast, 30 ml of olive oil, freshly ground pepper and remaining lukewarm water.

4.       With your finger-tips, work through the ingredients until all them are completely mixed.

5.       Gradually drawing the flour mixture with a scrapper, knead the flour to form a smooth dough. (it must be soft and spongy).

6.       Roll the dough in a rectangular shape and place it in a baking tray.

7.       Rest the dough in a warm place to rise, to almost double in size.  Approximately 45 minutes to an hour.

8.       Once risen, make little impressions with help of your fore-finger.  (will update with the picture soon)

9.       In a small wok, put in the remaining olive oil, let it heat up, to it add the remaining rosemary and switch off the flame when it emits out a nice aroma.  (do this on low flame)

10.   Once the oil cools a bit, pour it over the risen bread.  Pour them into the impressions made by your finger.  Place the thinly sliced onion and capsicum over the risen bread.

11.   Pre-heat the oven at 200⁰ C for 5-7 mins.

12.   Place the tray in the oven and bake it @200⁰ C for 20-25 minutes or until done.  You will get a light golden top. 

13.   Serve this as an appetizer and or supper.  I love serving this with soup.

NOTES:

1.       You could use dried rosemary if you can't lay your hands on the fresh ones.

2.       I have used dry instant yeast.  You could use fresh yeast too.

3.       Baking time may vary from oven to oven so do keep a watch after 20 minutes.  Mine took 20 minutes.

4.       Putting onion and capsicum is entirely your choice.