Thyme Focaccia And Parmesan Focaccia

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Baked Goods

Thyme Focaccia And Parmesan Focaccia

Ingredients

    -teaspoons) 1 teaspoon sugar 2 cups warm water (105=B0-115=B0 f.)

    1 tablespoon table salt about

    5.5 cups all-purpose flour (about)

    one third cup olive oil

    2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves

    2 tablespoons cornmeal

    half cup coarsely grated parmesan

    coarse salt for sprinkling freshly ground black pepper for -sprinkling

    In a standing electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment beat together yeast, sugar, and water and let stand 5 minutes, or until foamy. In a bowl stir together table salt and 5 cups flour. Stir oil into yeast mixture. With motor on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to yeast mixture. With dough hook knead dough 2 minutes, or until soft and slightly sticky.

    Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead in enough remaining flour to form a soft but not sticky dough. Form dough into a ball and put in an oiled large bowl, turning to coat. Cover bowl with a kitchen towel and let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.

    Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and divide in half. Knead thyme into one half and knead plain half 1 minute. Form each half into an oval and invert bowl over them. Let dough rest 5 minutes for easier rolling.

    Preheat oven to 450=B0 F.

    Oil two 13by 23 cm baking pans and sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon cornmeal. On lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin roll out dough halves into 13by 23 cm rectangles and fit into pans. Cover each pan with a kitchen towel and let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 20 minutes.

    Sprinkle plain dough with Parmesan and sprinkle both doughs with coarse salt and pepper. With lightly oiled fingertips make indentations, about 1 cm deep and 3 cm apart, all over dough rectangles and bake in middle of oven dozen minutes, or until golden. Remove focaccia from pans and cool on racks. Makes 1 thyme focaccia and 1 Parmesan focaccia.

    If you need only one focaccia, freeze the other for later use. Focaccia keeps, frozen, 2 weeks.