Focaccia with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Basil
Ingredients
Sponge starter:
- 2½ tsp (1 pkt) active dry yeast
- 2/3 cup warm water (~40.5 °C)
- 1 cup (140g) unbleached organic bread flour
Dough:
- ½ cup warm filtered water, room temperature
- 1/3 cup dry organic white wine
- 1/3 cup ‘Simply Natural’ Spanish organic cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp ‘Simply Natural’ French sea salt
- 2½ cups unbleached organic bread flour
- 1 cup organic spelt flour
- ½ cup ‘la Bio Idea’ sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 tsp ‘Simply Natural’ organic dried basil
- A handful of organic fresh red basil
Topping:
- Drizzle of extra virgin cold-pressed Spanish organic olive oil
- 2 pinches of French sea salt sprinkled over the dough
Credit: Ceri, Zenxin Master Chef
Methods
1. Sprinkle yeast over lukewarm water in large bowl.
2. Let stand for 10 mins till frothy.
3. Stir in first cup of unbleached flour and whisk until smooth.
4. Cover and let rise for 30 mins, this forms the ‘sponge’
5. Add salt to the water, whisk in the wine and olive oil, add to sponge.
6. Add 1 cup of flour stirring gently, then gradually add in the rest of the flour until you have a soft sticky dough.
7. If too sticky, add a little more flour and knead in the bowl for 8 minutes until silky and shiny. The dough should be still soft but not wet.
8. Cover the dough and allow to rise for 1 hr, until it has roughly doubled in size.
9. Add in the fresh & dried basil and sun-dried tomatoes, kneading to integrate.
10. Preheat the oven to 220 °C & line the baking sheet with baking paper.
11. For the third rise gently stretch and press the soft airy dough to fill the tray.
12. Cover again and leave to rise for another 30 minutes or until the mass has doubled.
13. Dimple dough using your fingers, drizzle with olive oil & sprinkle with sea salt.
14. Place in an oven preheated to 220 °C, then reduce to 200 °C.
15. Bake for 25 minutes.
16. Spray the oven with water at 10 min intervals for a crisp crust.
17. Remove when golden and enjoy while still hot!
N.B. This is delicious served with fresh hummus.
