Fluffy.
Flavorful.
DELICIOUS.
My husband is obsessive about pizza and bread. He might eat pizza each single evening of his life and die a cheerful man. I’m not as massive a fan of pizza, however I love focaccia. So, I got here up with this focaccia rossa recipe after seeing my good friend Owen Han’s video and it was a MASSIVE hit at Casa di Molinaro! I’ve now made this focaccia recipe 3 times within the final 10 days and every time, it’s gone in a number of hours! The final time I made it, Anthony stated, “The one drawback with that is that I can’t cease consuming it!!” Not a foul drawback to have, amiright??
So, with out additional ado, let’s get into it!
Disclaimer: A number of the hyperlinks on this publish could also be affiliate hyperlinks for merchandise I take advantage of and love. For those who make a purchase order after clicking a type of hyperlinks, I could earn a small affiliate fee, maybe sufficient to purchase some further gochujang or gochugaru 🙂
What’s Focaccia Rossa?
Focaccia rossa actually means “pink focaccia.” The focaccia, as you most likely know, refers to a selected form of Italian bread, whereas “rossa” or “pink” refers to marinara sauce. Therefore, focaccia rossa is a focaccia smothered in pink sauce.
What’s the distinction between focaccia and pizza? Curiously, I feel the distinction between the 2 is way extra evident in the US than in Italy itself. Oftentimes, in Italy, “focaccia” seems precisely the identical as pizza, solely with none sauce on it. Right here in the US, although, focaccia is way fluffier, with rather more top than what you see behind the glass shows in Italy.
It seems that the fluffier varieties are a current adaptation of the unique “focaccia,” which many specialists imagine predates the Roman empire (that’s previous!). The phrase focaccia is a derivation of the latin phrases “panis focacius,” or “bread of the fireside.” It refers to an unleavened flatbread that was baked over the coals. That’s proper–focaccia was initially a flat bread, which might be why those in Italy look so much like pizza.
This recipe for focaccia rossa shall be of the more moderen selection–fluffy and tall and gentle, as a substitute of flatter and chewy. Principally as a result of that’s what I want!
Why You’ll Love this Focaccia Rossa Recipe.
You’re going to love this focaccia rossa recipe as a result of it’s:
- EASY
- DELICIOUS
- VERSATILE
- GORGEOUS
Certainly one of my favourite issues about this recipe is how simple it’s. I can rattle off the recipe to you in my sleep, as a result of there are so few elements. A lot of the work is within the ready, as is the case with so many bread recipes. After I first began making focaccia, I used far much less water, energetic dry yeast, and kneaded it quite a bit, yielding a a lot tighter crumb and chewier bread.
Not solely is it completely scrumptious (belief me, everybody will ask you to make this at the very least twice extra within the subsequent 2 weeks), it’s so versatile. You may actually add no matter toppings you like, identical to pizza! Anthony prefers maintaining it easy, so essentially the most dressed up our focaccia rossa has gotten is somewhat recent basil and dollops of vegan ricotta (we like Kite Hill however Nisha Vora additionally has a incredible tofu ricotta recipe).
And as you’ll be able to see, she’s a stunner!
Key Elements and Notes on Substitutions for Focaccia Rossa Recipe.
The next are the important thing elements and substitution concepts for focaccia rossa.
Immediate Yeast.
As a result of I don’t need you to need to price range out a whole 24 hours for this recipe (which is what most pizza dough recipes require), I like to recommend utilizing instantaneous or fast-acting yeast for this focaccia rossa recipe. If all you will have is energetic dry yeast, you might want to regulate your proof occasions accordingly.
All Function Flour.
Like I stated, I want my focaccia on the fluffier, softer aspect of issues, so this focaccia rossa recipe depends on all objective flour. For those who want a chewier crust, go together with a bread flour (which can have extra protein content material). Can this recipe be made gluten-free? Sure, however you must solely accomplish that utilizing a gluten-free flour mix particularly designed for yeasted breads, like King Arthur’s Gluten-Free Bread Flour. The feel is not going to be the identical, however when you slather it along with your favourite pink sauce, it’ll be completely delicious!!
Further Virgin Olive Oil.
The unique authentic focaccia recipe (you already know, the one from pre-Historical Roman occasions) used further virgin olive oil and this focaccia rossa recipe is not any totally different! As I’ve stated 1,000,000 occasions, use an additional virgin olive oil that you simply’d really feel comfy serving as a dipping sauce–in different phrases, one the place the flavour is scrumptious and addictive. You’ll be utilizing the EVOO as not only a taste agent for this focaccia rossa, you’ll even be utilizing it to grease your focaccia pan to make sure a clear lift-off!
Sugar.
Sugar is your yeast’s meals, so you have to somewhat bit on this focaccia rossa recipe. For those who don’t wish to use sugar, although, you can even use brown rice syrup.
Sea Salt.
You’ll be seasoning your focaccia rossa with the best of sea salts. Don’t use desk salt for seasoning your focaccia bread–use a superb, medium grain sea salt or kosher salt.
Purple Sauce.
This can be a focaccia rossa, so you have to to bust out your favourite pink sauce! I like to make use of my do-it-yourself marinara for this, however clearly, retailer purchased will work simply as nicely in the event you don’t have time to stew tomatoes for the subsequent a number of hours!
Cherry Tomatoes.
Along with pink sauce, I like so as to add a handful of cherry tomatoes to my focaccia rossa, principally for ornamental functions. However Anthony additionally talked about that he liked the burst of shiny, tart taste they imparted.
Basil and Oregano.
I wish to season my focaccia rossa with each a mix of dried Italian herbs (basil and oregano) after which high the infant with some recent basil on the finish.
Vegan Cheese (Non-compulsory).
The basic focaccia rossa is often cheeseless. Nonetheless, in the event you’d like so as to add some vegan cheese to it, go for it! I added a number of dollops of recent vegan ricotta, however grated parmesan would additionally work nicely as a topping! You can even add vegan mozzarella, but when so, I’d accomplish that whereas the focaccia remains to be baking within the oven as a substitute of including it on the finish like ricotta or parmesan.
Suggestions for Focaccia Rossa (READ BEFORE Making!!!).
There are only a handful of issues crucial to executing the proper focaccia rossa:
Water Wants To Be The Proper Temperature. The water you add to your flour must be the best temperature to make sure it doesn’t kill your yeast. If it’s too chilly or too sizzling, your yeast will not survive! The most effective water temperature in your yeast shall be between 90 and 115° F. Right here’s a trick I like to make use of–I fill my liquid measuring cup with 50% actually sizzling water and 50% chilly water. This often offers me the good temperature for all my yeasted bread recipes.
Use a Timer. As you’ll see, there’s numerous ready round on this recipe. So as to make sure you don’t neglect to fold, proof, switch, and even bake your focaccia rossa, use a timer. I take advantage of the one on my oven or on my cellphone.
Maintain a Bowl of Water Useful. Your dough goes to be sticky, however you’ll be required to deal with it quite a bit. To make sure that you’re not over-handling it (which might trigger undesirable gluten-agitation), you’ll wish to maintain your palms slick always. I maintain a small bowl of heat water subsequent to my dough all through the proofing course of and provides my fingers a fast dip earlier than dealing with. This ensures there shall be no sticky conditions!
Deal with the Dough Like It’s HOT!! I don’t actually understand how else to explain it, however to be able to make sure you don’t unnecessarily deflate your dough after its ultimate proof, you wish to deal with the dough prefer it’s on fireplace. In different phrases, if you’re sticking your fingers into the dough to create the hallmark dimples in your focaccia rossa, you wish to get in and get out, such as you’re dipping your fingers in coals!
Don’t Use Glass. You should use no matter form of bowls you want, however don’t use a glass baking pan in your focaccia rossa. It is not going to crisp up the best way you’ll need it to. As a substitute, use a non-stick focaccia pan, a forged iron pan, or perhaps a dutch oven pan (which is what I take advantage of).
Dimension Issues. And be sure you adhere to the dimensions (9″ x 9″)–in the event you go together with a pan that’s too small, you’ll not get the specified aeration. For those who go together with one thing too massive, you received’t get the fluffy top.
Grease That Pan. The worst factor that may occur is that you simply spend half your day perfecting your focaccia rossa after which it received’t come out of its pan. Whether or not you’re utilizing a non-stick, forged iron, or dutch oven, you wish to generously grease each the underside and sides of your baking pan with both further virgin olive oil or vegan butter (the latter works higher, fwiw).
Step-by-Step Directions for Making This Focaccia Rossa Recipe.
To a really massive bowl, add all of your dry elements: flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Then, add your olive oil, adopted by 9 fluid ounces (1 cup + 2 tablespoons) of heat (90 to 115° F) water. Utilizing a wood spoon, give it a superb stir till all of your dry elements are totally integrated (you shouldn’t see any dry bits of flour). The dough shall be very moist and scraggly. Cowl and let it sit for quarter-hour at room temperature (ideally within the 76 to 79° F vary).
After quarter-hour have handed, fold your dough by holding the bowl with one hand and utilizing the opposite hand (moist your fingers!!) to drag the sting of the dough up and into the middle. Then, rotate the bowl a number of inches and repeat the folding movement. It is best to find yourself folding the dough into the middle about 10 to 12 occasions when you’ve rotated your bowl the total 360°. Then, utilizing each palms, gently pull the dough up and flip it earlier than settling it again into the bowl. Cowl and let sit for one more quarter-hour, earlier than repeating the very same folds and flip 3 extra occasions.
By the point you attain your ultimate (4th) folds and flip, your dough ought to be comparatively easy, fashioned, and even bubbly. Cowl the dough and let it sit at room temperature for one more hour (till it has doubled in dimension).
After your dough has proofed for about an hour, add olive oil to an already well-greased 9″ x 9″ non-stick baking pan (or related spherical pan, which is what I take advantage of), ensuring the oil evenly covers the underside of your pan. Gently switch the dough from the bowl to the baking pan. Then, utilizing moist palms, use your fingers to softly carry and flip the dough into the pan in order that each side are actually coated with somewhat olive oil. Cowl and let it sit at room temperature for one more hour (till the dough is tremendous poofy).
At round half-hour into your third and ultimate proof, preheat your oven to 475° F so it’s prepared for you when it’s time to bake. When your dough has completed its ultimate proof, insert your fingers utilizing a fast and darting movement to create dimples all through (about 1.5 inches aside). Drizzle with somewhat extra olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake within the preheated oven for about 10 minutes.
At 10 minutes, your focaccia ought to already be fairly crisp. Take away from oven and shortly add your marinara sauce evenly excessive. You don’t want so as to add an excessive amount of, as doing so will impede the focaccia from cooking totally (you don’t need uncooked focaccia!). Add cherry tomatoes, urgent them in in order that they don’t get dislodged. Sprinkle with dried Italian herbs. Place focaccia again in oven and bake for one more 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, take away the focaccia from the oven. Gently take away the focaccia from its pan utilizing a big spatula and place the bread on a wire rack or pizza rack. Place it again within the oven and bake for a further 5 to 7 minutes, till the perimeters are golden brown. Take away from the oven and high with extra further virgin olive oil, recent basil, and vegan cheese (elective) earlier than serving.
Incessantly Requested Questions.
Can I make focaccia rossa gluten-free?
Why do I’ve to pre-bake my focaccia for focaccia rossa?
For those who attempt to bake the focaccia with the sauce already on it, the highest of your focaccia will doubtless find yourself being uncooked, even whereas the remainder of it’s cooked. So as to keep away from this unlucky state of affairs, pre-bake your focaccia for 10 minutes earlier than overlaying it with marinara sauce.
How do I reheat my focaccia rosa?
One of the simplest ways to reheat focaccia rossa is to bake it within the oven at 425° F for about 10 minutes, with somewhat foil excessive to forestall it from scorching. You may retailer your focaccia rossa within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Need Extra Scrumptious Bread Recipes?
I acquired you. Try the next:
Recipe Card.
Excellent Focaccia Rossa
For if you need one thing a bit breadier than pizza however with all the identical taste!
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To a really massive bowl, add all of your dry elements: flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Then, add your olive oil, adopted by 9 fluid ounces (1 cup + 2 tablespoons) of heat (90 to 115° F) water. Utilizing a wood spoon, give it a superb stir till all of your dry elements are totally integrated (you shouldn’t see any dry bits of flour). The dough shall be very moist and scraggly. Cowl and let it sit for quarter-hour at room temperature (ideally within the 76 to 79° F vary).
-
After quarter-hour have handed, fold your dough by holding the bowl with one hand and utilizing the opposite hand (moist your fingers!!) to drag the sting of the dough up and into the middle. Then, rotate the bowl a number of inches and repeat the folding movement. It is best to find yourself folding the dough into the middle about 10 to 12 occasions as soon as you’ve got rotated your bowl the total 360°. Then, utilizing each palms, gently pull the dough up and flip it earlier than settling it again into the bowl. Cowl and let sit for one more quarter-hour, earlier than repeating the very same folds and flip 3 extra occasions.By the point you attain your ultimate (4th) folds and flip, your dough ought to be comparatively easy, fashioned, and even bubbly. Cowl the dough and let it sit at room temperature for one more hour (till it has doubled in dimension).
-
After your dough has proofed for about an hour, add olive oil to an already well-greased baking pan, ensuring the oil evenly covers the underside of your pan. Gently switch the dough from the bowl to the baking pan. Then, utilizing moist palms, use your fingers to softly carry and flip the dough into the pan in order that each side are actually coated with somewhat olive oil. Cowl and let it sit at room temperature for one more hour (till the dough is tremendous poofy).
-
At round half-hour into your third and ultimate proof, preheat your oven to 475° F so it is prepared for you when it is time to bake. When your dough has completed its ultimate proof, insert your fingers utilizing a fast and darting movement to create dimples all through (about 1.5 inches aside). Drizzle with somewhat extra olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake within the preheated oven for about 10 minutes.
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At 10 minutes, your focaccia ought to already be fairly crisp. Take away from oven and shortly add your marinara sauce evenly excessive. You don’t want so as to add an excessive amount of, as doing so will impede the focaccia from cooking totally (you do not need uncooked focaccia!). Add cherry tomatoes, urgent them in so they do not get dislodged. Sprinkle with dried Italian seasoning. Place focaccia again in oven and bake for one more 10 minutes.
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After 10 minutes, take away the focaccia from the oven. Gently take away the focaccia from its pan utilizing a big spatula and place the bread on a wire rack or pizza rack. Place it again within the oven and bake for a further 5 to 7 minutes, till the perimeters are golden brown. Take away from the oven and high with extra further virgin olive oil, recent basil, and vegan cheese (elective) earlier than serving.
Energy: 245kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 6gFats: 12gSaturated Fats: 1gPolyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 3gSodium: 601mgPotassium: 122mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 132IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 2mg
Word: Dietary data is offered in your comfort. It ought to solely be thought-about an estimate that may fluctuate enormously relying on a mess of things (e.g. additions, subtractions, quantity and sort of oil used, and many others.)
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Feedback & Questions.
