How to Make Focaccia – Knead it now, thanks to Paul Hollywood and my husband, Gordon.
Gordon does not cook. However, he does like scientific thingys. I had been watching Paul Hollywood of The Great British Bake Off when Gordon wandered in.
Now I make no bones about the fact that if anything happened to Gordon, then Paul Hollywood is very high on the replacement list. Gordon knows this. So, he decided to started making focaccia for me, and for our friends. He says it is because of the scientific techniques involved in How to Make Focaccia.
I think he wanted to show me that he could knead as well as Paul.
Making this focaccia, is a lot about kneading and stretching the dough. Something about releasing the gluten. And it takes a long, long time to do this.
Regardless, the finished product is amazing and I will encourage Gordon’s new found skill and passion.
How to make Focaccia
Ingredients
500g strong white bread flour
2 tsp salt
2 sachets dried easy blend yeast
2 tbsp olive oil
400ml cold water
olive oil, for drizzling
fine sea salt
Knead and stretch like it is going out of style
Preparation method
- Place the flour, salt, yeast, olive oil and 300ml/10½fl oz of the water into a large bowl. Gently stir with your hand or a wooden spoon to form a dough then knead the dough in the bowl for five minutes, gradually adding the remaining water.
- Stretch the dough by hand in the bowl, tuck the sides into the centre, turn the bowl 80 degrees and repeat the process for about five minutes.
- Tip the dough onto an oiled work surface and continue kneading for five more minutes. Return the dough to the bowl, cover and leave to rise until doubled in size.
- Line two large baking sheets with baking paper. Tip the dough out of the bowl and divide into two portions. Flatten each portion onto a baking sheet, pushing to the corners, then leave to prove for one hour.
Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7. Drizzle the loaves with oil, sprinkle with fine sea salt then bake in the oven for 20 minutes. When cooked, drizzle with a little more olive oil and serve hot or warm.
This is the result of how to make focaccia and you do need to knead it now
Focaccia
