The Best Sourdough Focaccia Bread Recipes

THE BEST SOURDOUGH FOCACCIA BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix the starter, water, honey, flour and salt until a shaggy dough forms. Set the dough aside for 30 minutes for the flour to absorb the water.
• After 30 minutes, gently turn the dough over on itself a few times to smooth out the ball. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and allow to rise at room temperature for 12 hours.
• After 12 hours, sprinkle thyme or rosemary over the dough if using and knead them in just until mixed.
• Oil a 9x13 rimmed baking tray with 1/4 cup (60 grams) of the olive oil. Transfer the dough to the pan and use your hands to stretch it as you can. It may spring back on you, but don't worry--it will spread as it rises.
• Cover with a damp cloth or oiled plastic wrap and allow to rise again until doubled in size--about 4 to 6 hours more depending on the warmth of your house and strength of your starter.
• Preheat the oven to 425. While the oven preheats, use your fingers to press straight down into the dough making dimples. Some air bubbles will form and that's fine. Drizzle over the remaining 1/4 of olive oil and sprinkle on the 1 teaspoon of sea salt.
• Bake 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or cool and wrap tightly. Will last 2 days on the counter or 6 weeks frozen.

SOURDOUGH FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Combine the the above ingredients, kneading in flour 1/2 cup at a time.
• Let rise till double, punch down, and kneed a little to let the gases out.
• Let the dough relax for 10 minutes or so .
• Roll the dough into an oval about 9x6 and place on your favourite baking surface.
• The dough should be about an inch thick.
• Make dents all over the surface of the dough.
• Pour on olive oil liberally and spread it all around. It will pool in the dents.
• Top with herbs and spices, and possibly parmesan.
• My favourite is fresh ground black pepper and coarsely ground salt,.
• Let rise until double again, and bake at 450°F for 15 to 20 minutes,or until brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

SOURDOUGH FOCACCIA

Steps:

• Make sure your starter is active - it should be nice and bubbly. If it isn't, feed it and wait until a teaspoon of the starter floats in warm water. When you're happy your starter is active, measure 100g into a large bowl and pour over 400ml tepid water. Stir with a rubber spatula to combine, but don't worry if there are unmixed bits of starter. Tip in the flour and mix everything together to make a rough dough. Make sure all the flour is mixed in and that there are no dry bits up the side of the bowl. Cover and leave to rest for at least 30 mins or up to 1 hr.
• Prepare a jug of water for dipping your hands into. Scatter 10g salt over the dough, dip a hand into the water and scrunch it through the dough to mix in the salt. The dough should come back together and the salt should be completely mixed in. Cover again and leave for 20-30 mins, then wet your hands, grab the dough from one side and stretch it over itself. Repeat with the other side of the dough - it should be very elastic. Curl the dough around onto itself so it's smooth and taught, then cover and leave for another 20-30 mins. Repeat this process two more times (three in total), then leave the dough to prove for 2-3 hrs until risen by about 40 per cent - it should be bubbly and soft.
• Drizzle a deep, roughly 20 x 30cm baking tray with half the olive oil and scrape the dough onto the tray. Incorporate the oil into the dough by stretching and folding it on the tray until it comes together. Don't worry if it's a bit stringy to start, just keep stretching and bringing it back on itself and it will come back together. When the dough has come together into an oily mass, leave to prove at room temperature for 3-4 hrs, or for up to 18 hrs in the fridge.
• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Use your fingers to stretch the dough so it fits into the tray evenly, then dimple the surface with your fingertips. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and dimple a few more times to create little oil puddles on the surface. Scatter over the remaining salt, give the dough a final poke and bake for 25-30 mins until puffed up and deep golden. Remove the tray from the oven, drizzle with the remaining oil then leave to cool for at least 40 mins before cutting into squares.