Red Onion Foccacia For Two Recipes

RED ONION, GARLIC AND ROSEMARY FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Sift the flour, salt and sugar into a bowl.
• Stir in the yeast, (this should be 1 dessert spoon but Zaar doesn't like it -- so it's about half a tbsp) oil and water.
• Mix to a dough. Add more liquid if kneaded (depends on the dough you're using) but be careful.
• Turn the dough out and knead it for 10 minutes on a lightly floured surface.
• Place in an oiled bowl in a warm place (window sill / airing cupboard) for about an hour to double in bulk. Cover it with cling film or a wet tea towel to stop it from forming a crust. (If it does, then knead it some more to get rid of it - but it will then need more proving time to get the air back).
• Roll the dough out into a rough oval shape about 1cm thick, and place onto an oiled baking tray.
• Make deep holes in the dough about 1 inch apart.
• Allow to rise for 20-30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200C / 400F / GM6
• Mix together the remaining oil, garlic and rosemary (leave to sit for a little while to flavour the oil).
• Spread over the surface of the bread, and cover with the chopped onion.
• Sprinkle over the salt, and then flick on some cold water to stop a skin from warming as it cooks.
• Bake for 25 minutes, and then cool on a wire rack.

ROSEMARY AND RED ONION FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Pour the warm water and honey into the bowl of your electric mixer with a paddle attachment. Add one package of dry active yeast and swirl around. Allow the yeast to foam for 10 minutes or so.
• Then add the cold water, lemon zest, 2 Tb. oil, salt, rosemary and onions. Turn the mixer on low and slowly add the flour.
• Once all the flour is in the bowl, switch the paddle to the bread hook attachment. "Knead" on low for about 10 minutes.
• Pull the dough away from the sides and rub the bowl down with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise for 1 ½ to 2 hours. Remove the plastic wrap and turn the mixer back on for 30 seconds.
• Divide the dough into two pieces and press with your fingers into two 9-10 inch round pans. As you press to dough to the edges, don't be afraid to let your fingers puncture the dough-this will created the bumpy, rustic texture of traditional focaccia.
• Cover both pans with a clean, damp towel. Allow the dough to rise again for another 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 400* F.
• Before baking use the remaining tablespoon of oil and brush the tops of the loaves. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and decorate with thin onion slices, if you like.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the tops are golden-brown. Turn out the bread loaves and ENJOY!