Focaccia is an Italian flatbread recognized for its richness, dimpled exterior, and crispy, ethereal texture. It is the right bread for creating massive, rustic sandwiches, slicing into small rectangles and dipping into seasoned olive oil, or having fun with by itself with a cup of espresso. This Italian staple is beloved around the globe and not too long ago skilled a resurgence in recognition due to a pattern on social media that reworked this traditional bread into an edible murals.

Backyard artwork focaccia brings a contemporary twist to conventional focaccia with quite a lot of recent greens, herbs, edible flowers, and different adornments positioned on high to resemble a garden-like panorama. Because the focaccia bakes, the toppings settle into the dough, tenderize, and start to brown for layers of taste and texture with every chunk. Recipe developer Katie Rosenhouse tells us, “Backyard artwork focaccia affords a zen-like alternative to use what your backyard has to supply and create a novel bread that is as eye-catching as it’s scrumptious. To not point out, it is enjoyable for cooks of all ages.”

To organize the focaccia dough, you’ll use water, instantaneous yeast, granulated sugar, bread flour, kosher salt, and olive oil. In case you solely have energetic dry yeast available, proof it first by warming the water, including the yeast and sugar, and setting this apart till frothy. Granulated sugar may be substituted with honey or your different most popular sweetener, and the bread flour may be swapped with all-purpose, if wanted. Be aware that bread flour has the next protein content material than all-purpose and can aid you create a pleasant, crusty focaccia. Olive oil is a key part of focaccia, so use a high-quality oil for the very best taste. 

To high the focaccia earlier than baking, seize salt, black pepper, and quite a lot of greens — purple onion, asparagus, inexperienced onions, cherry tomatoes, mini candy peppers, flat-leaf parsley, rosemary, and black olives. Be at liberty to make use of your creativeness and what you’ve gotten available to create your personal design.

Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a hook attachment, mix 2 cups water with the yeast, sugar, flour, 2 ½ teaspoons salt, and a couple of tablespoons olive oil.

Combine on medium pace for six to eight minutes, till all the elements are completely mixed right into a sticky dough.

Cowl and put aside for half-hour.

Uncover the dough. Moist your fingers after which raise and fold the dough onto itself three or 4 instances.

Cowl and put aside for one more half-hour.

Repeat steps 4 and 5 twice.

Unfold 2 tablespoons olive oil right into a 9×13-inch baking pan.

Pour the dough into the pan and coat with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.

Gently stretch the dough to coat the underside of the pan, taking care to not deflate any air bubbles alongside the best way.

Cowl and let rise for 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 F.

Unwrap the dough and use your fingertips to dimple the floor.

Decoratively high the dough with the greens. Sprinkle with the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and the pepper.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or till golden brown.

Let stand in pan for 10 minutes, after which switch to a chopping board.

Lower the bread into parts and serve heat or at room temperature.

In comparison with different breads, focaccia is exclusive in its presentation, texture, and taste. Focaccia is a wealthy flatbread, although it is noticeably thicker than different sorts of flatbreads. It is sometimes stretched and dimpled in a baking pan or rimmed baking sheet and drizzled with a beneficiant little bit of olive oil, and there is a good distinction between its fluffy inside and crisp, golden-brown exterior. It is typically produced utilizing a high-hydration dough that when baked, helps create the bread’s smooth, open crumb. Dimpling the floor of the dough earlier than baking enhances the ethereal texture by highlighting the air bubbles current all through whereas additionally offering little pockets of area for the olive oil and seasonings to settle in. 

How cooks use and high focaccia varies extensively. It may be topped merely with olive oil, salt, and pepper and loved by itself or topped with quite a lot of herbs, cheese, garlic, greens, and extra. It’s possible you’ll discover it used as a base for hearty sandwiches or thick pizzas, served at first of a meal with oil and vinegar for dipping, or pressed for paninis. 

In relation to topping your backyard artwork vegetable focaccia, or any focaccia, the sky is the restrict. To maintain issues easy, a mixture of salt and pepper is the simplest place to start out. Add crushed purple pepper flakes, herbs de Provence, garlic powder, za’atar, or cumin seeds for a novel contact. 

You may high focaccia with recent herbs, comparable to rosemary, thyme, parsley, tarragon, basil, oregano, or chives. Sliced or minced garlic, caramelized onions, or lemon zest can every add a pleasant pop of taste. In relation to greens, the ripe ones in your backyard or fridge are excellent. This straightforward bread recipe is made for utilizing up these forgotten veggies. High the focaccia with sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, squash, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, eggplant, leeks, candy potatoes, fennel, or corn, whether or not you form the mixture to resemble a backyard or not. You may even experiment with including dollops of pesto, sprinkling on feta or mozzarella cheese, or drizzling the focaccia with truffle oil after baking.