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Rosemary and Sea Salt Foccacia

​​There's nothing better than the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the house on a cold, wintery day.  This bread is a cinch for little bakers to make and won't disappoint!

 

You'll Need:

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  • 500 g or 1lb 2 oz strong white bread flour and a little extra for dusting

  • 2 tsp table salt

  • 1 x 7g or 1/8 oz yeast sachet

  • 80 ml or 3 fl oz extra virgin olive oil

  • 150 - 250 ml or 5-9fl oz warm water

  • vegetable oil for oiling cling wrap

  • 1 bunch fresh rosemary

  • 2 tsp sea salt

  • 2 tsp ground black pepper (optional)

  • cling wrap

  • baking tray

  • 2 cloves garlic (optional)

 

 

Steps:

1. Pour flour into a large bowl.  Add yeast and salt.  Add olive oil.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Make a well in the middle and slowly add water.  You need just enough water to make a soft dough.  If your dough becomes sticky, you've gone too far.  When this happens, don't be tempted to add more flour, just start kneading the bread. 

3.Pour your dough out onto a lightly floured surface and keep on kneading. The more water you can add, the lighter and fluffier your bread will be, so hang in there!

 

Lift the dough high and slap it down on the bench.  Knead, knead, knead for ten minutes by hand (or 5 minutes in a bread maker if you are lucky enough to own one).  Ten minutes of this will feel like an hour and your arms will be screaming, unless you have a child with you, in which case this is by far the best bit!  Just like play dough.

When it's ready, the dough should stretch easily when you pull it.  You can also round it into a ball, and poke a floured finger into the middle.  If the dough pops back into shape, it's ready.

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4. Lightly flour your baking tray.  Flatten the dough into an oval shape and place onto tray.  I broke off some dough for Tadhg and let him make some cool shapes, just like play dough. 

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5. Pour a little oil onto some cling wrap and cover, making sure it is air tight.  Leave the dough in a warm place to rise.  It will take about an hour before it doubles in size and is ready.  Here's my boring circle beside Tadhg's gorgeous little caterpillar bread stick.

6. Preheat the oven to 200'c / 400 F / Gas 6.

While the oven is heating up, cut your rosemary stalks into short sprigs, a couple of centimeters or about an inch in height.  Using your fingers, poke holes into your dough, then press the rosemary sprigs through the dough.  I just did this haphazardly, not evenly, although be as creative as you like here.

7. Sprinkle some sea salt over the dough.  If you like garlic, slice two cloves thinly and sprinkle between your rosemary stalks.

8. Place in the top third of the oven and leave to bake for about 25–30 minutes, or until the bread is well risen and golden-brown.  If you tap it lightly, it should feel hollow.

 

 

 

 

9.  Butter or drizzle with olive oil and eat!

 

 

Note: Try an addition of red onions and black olives for an Italian twist!

Here are a few other delicious looking foccacia recipes to try:

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

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