Black Olive Focaccia Bread Recipes

BLACK OLIVE AND ROSEMARY FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Stir together the water, sugar, and yeast until dissolved, allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 cup rosemary, flour, and salt until a dough forms. Turn onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Gently knead in the black olives during the last few minutes of kneading. Place into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled in bulk, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet, or sprinkle liberally with corn meal.
• Deflate dough, and press into prepared baking sheet. Brush dough with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Toss sliced tomatoes, and garlic with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season with 2 tablespoons minced rosemary, salt, and pepper. Arrange the tomato slices over the dough in an even layer. Sprinkle with grated cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until puffed and golden brown; 15 to 20 minutes. Cut into squares and serve immediately.

FOCACCIA BREAD HERBED WITH BLACK OLIVE & FRESH ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Cover potato with cold water in medium saucepan.
• Simmer until potato is tender.
• Drain, reserving cooking liquid.
• Mash potato.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle yeast over 1/2 cup warm (NOT HOT) potato water with dissolved 1 tablespoon sugar in small bowl, mix together.
• Let stand until the yeast begins to act, about 5 minutes.
• Add 2 tablespoons of the oil to the yeast mixture.
• In a food processor add together the flours, potato and salt.
• Pulse 4 times.
• With the machine running slowly pour through feed tube the yeast mixture.
• Adding rest of water to make a ball of dough in the machine.
• (Be careful not to over add the water) Use only enough water so the dough comes into a ball and away from sides of bowl.
• Knead for 1 minute in food processor.
• Turn out on a floured surface, and knead just until smooth.
• Keep the dough soft.
• Pour 1/2 teaspoon of the oil into a clean bowl.
• Place the dough in the bowl, turning once to oil the top.
• Cover.
• Let rise until doubled, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Punch the dough down.
• Use 1 teaspoon of the oil to coat a baking sheet, and place the dough on the baking sheet.
• Gently press the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness.
• Pour the remaining 1-1/2 teaspoons oil over the top of the dough.
• Use your knuckle to dimple the dough at 1-1/2 inch intervals.
• Sprinkle with the rosemary, black olives and the cheese.
• Place in a cold oven on the center shelf.
• Place a flat pan of hot water on the shelf below the bread.
• Let rise until doubled, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Sprinkle with salt to taste.
• Turn on the oven to 375°F.
• Bake the focaccia for 20 to 25 minutes, or until browned on top.
• Remove from the pan, and cool on a wire rack.
• Serve warm.

OLIVE FOCACCIA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and 1 cup flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, peppers, olives and parsley., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 50 minutes., Punch dough down. Shape into a 9-in. circle on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 25 minutes. With fingertips, make several dimples over top of dough. Brush with oil. Sprinkle with kosher salt and cheeses., Bake at 400° until golden brown, 14-18 minutes. Remove to a wire rack.

MEDITERRANEAN BLACK OLIVE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together flour, yeast, sugar, salt, black olives, olive oil, and water.
• Turn out dough onto a floured board. Knead until smooth and elastic, 5 to 10 minutes. Set aside, and let rise about 45 minutes, until it doubles in size. Punch down. Knead well again, for about 5 to 10 minutes. Let rise for about 30 minutes, until it doubles in size.
• Round the dough on kneading board. Place upside down in a bowl lined with a lint-free, well floured towel. Let rise until double in size.
• While the bread is rising for the third time, put a pan of water in the bottom of the oven. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
• Gently turn loaf out onto a sheet pan that has been lightly oiled and dusted with cornmeal.
• Bake loaf at 500 degrees F (260 degrees C) for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake for 30 more minutes, or until done.

FOCACCIA WITH OLIVES AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Place 2 cups warm water in large bowl. Sprinkle dry yeast over; stir with fork. Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 10 minutes.
• Add 4 1/4 cups flour and salt to yeast mixture and stir to blend well (dough will be sticky). Knead dough on floured surface until smooth and elastic, adding more flour by tablespoonfuls if dough is sticky, about 10 minutes. Form dough into ball. Oil large bowl; add dough, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm area until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down dough; knead into ball and return to same bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm area until doubled, about 45 minutes or less
• Coat 15x10-inch baking sheet with 1 tablespoon oil. Punch down dough. Transfer to prepared sheet. Using fingertips, press out dough to 13x10-inch rectangle. Let dough rest 10 minutes. Drizzle 2 tablespoons oil over dough. Sprinkle olives and chopped rosemary evenly over. Let dough rise uncovered in warm area until puffy, about 25 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 475°F. Press fingertips all over dough, forming indentations. Bake bread until brown and crusty, about 20 minutes. Serve bread warm or at room temperature.

SUPER QUICK GARLIC & OLIVE "BETTER THAN" FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a medium sized bowl.
• Stir in the olive oil and garlic then add the water or milk to make a dough.
• Knead gently on floured board.
• Roll into round shape and pat onto an ungreased 8" round flat pizza dish, baking tray or put into a pie pan.
• Poke holes all over with your fingers.
• Drizzle with a little olive oil and some grated parmesan cheese and bake for 12-15 minutes in a 400F/200C oven.
• Serve with chopped black olives in the indentations and olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip.