Blue Cheese Bacon Focaccia Recipes

BLUE CHEESE-BACON FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast and honey in 1/2 cup warm water (110°F-115°F) in a small bowl. Let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes. Combine 4 1/2 cups flour, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add the yeast mixture, 6 tablespoons oil, potatoes, and 1 cup warm water. Mix with a wooden spoon until almost incorporated, then finish mixing with your hands. Transfer dough to a floured work surface and knead until smooth, 4-6 minutes, adding more flour by tablespoonfuls if dough seems very sticky (dough should be soft and elastic).
• Brush a large bowl with oil; place dough in bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft-free area. Let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook until it is light golden but not crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Brush a 17x11x1" baking sheet with oil. Press dough into pan. Press with your fingertips all over, forming dimples. Drizzle remaining 2 tablespoons oil over.
• Bake focaccia for 10 minutes. Sprinkle cheese over, then bacon and rosemary. Return to oven and bake until golden brown, 12-15 minutes longer. Let cool for 10 minutes in pan. Slide bread onto a wire rack to cool completely. Slice into 2x1" pieces.

FOCACCIA WITH BLUE CHEESE AND HONEY

Steps:

• In a large bowl or the work bowl of an electric mixer dissolve yeast in the milk. Add sugar and 1 cup of the flour. Mix well and let stand in a warm place about 15 minutes for the yeast to activate.
• Mix another 2 1/2 cups flour into the yeast mixture with the dough hook attachment until smooth. With the machine running, add 1 cup flour and knead for 6 minutes. Turn out onto a board and lightly knead in remaining 1/2 cup flour. The dough should remain rather wet to ensure a soft and light bread. Shape the dough into a ball and put it in an oiled bowl. Cover with a damp towel and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk about 20 minutes.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Press dough with finger to gently stretch dough to fit in pan, and then use a rolling pin to lightly flatten.
• Oil an 11 by 17-inch baking sheet with 1/3 cup olive oil. Transfer the dough to the baking sheet. Using your fingertips, nudge the dough into a rectangle.
• Cover and let rise again until doubled, 30 to 40 minutes.
• To bake, preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Make indentations all over the dough by pressing with your fingertips being careful not to puncture all the way through the dough. Brush olive oil over the top, filling in the wells. Sprinkle the salt and rosemary over the surface. Bake until crisp on the bottom and golden brown on top, about 30 to 35 minutes.
• Cut into wedges, top with crumbled blue cheese and honey.

BACON FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a metal bowl, whisk together milk, water, and sugar. Stir in yeast and 1 cup all-purpose flour; let stand in a warm place until bubbly, about 5 minutes. Stir in eggs, remaining 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, cake flour, 1 tablespoon salt, and cooked bacon. Using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, knead for 8 minutes. Work dough into a ball and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil onto a metal 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Transfer dough to baking dish and flatten with your fingers (make sure dough reaches edge of pan). Evenly scatter the roasted vegetables on top and gently press them into dough. Place in a warm spot and let rise again until doubled, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with sea salt.
• Bake until evenly golden and, when turned out of the pan, bottom is browned, 12 minutes. Let cool completely 5 minutes in pan; remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into squares to serve.

BACON-BLUE CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spread each of 4 bread slices with 2 tablespoons onion jam. Top each with a quarter of the cheese, 1 1/2 slices bacon, and 1 slice bread.
• Melt 1 to 2 tablespoons butter on a griddle or in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add sandwiches in batches, and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 6 minutes total, flipping once and adding more butter as needed. Transfer to a baking sheet, and bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Cut in halves or quarters, and serve hot.