Cornmeal Focaccia
- 2 cups warm water (100 to 110F)
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 4 1/2 to 5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
- 1/3 cup white or yellow cornmeal
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary, plus 5 to 6 small sprigs
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tomato, cored and thinly sliced vertically
- 1/2 onion, preferably Vidalia, very thinly sliced
- Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Place the warm water in the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the dough hook.
- Sprinkle the dry yeast over the water; stir.
- Let stand until the yeast dissolves, bubbles, and proofs, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add 4 cups of the flour, cornmeal, salt, and chopped rosemary and stir on low to combine.
- Add an additional 1/2 to 1 cup of the remaining flour and knead on medium speed until smooth.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand until smooth and elastic, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Form the dough into a ball.
- Place 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large bowl; add the dough, turning to coat in oil.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm area until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 475F.
- Brush a 18 x 13-inch rimmed baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of the remaining olive oil.
- Punch down the dough and transfer to the prepared sheet.
- Using your fingertips, press out the dough to fit the pan.
- Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil.
- Let the dough rise, uncovered, in a warm place until puffy, about 30 minutes.
- Dimple the dough with your fingertips, forming indentations.
- Top with the sliced tomatoes and onion and season with salt and pepper.
- Scatter the rosemary sprigs around and press lightly into the dough.
- Bake until brown and crusty, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
- When proofing bread in a cool, drafty kitchen, I often turn my microwave into a makeshift proofing box.
- I boil water in a microwave-safe measuring cup for a couple of minutes to heat the microwave and create steam (dont remove the cup of water).
- I then place my bowl of dough in the microwave and quickly shut the door.
- This creates a warm, draft-free spot for the bread to rise.
water, packet, flour, white, salt, fresh rosemary, extravirgin olive oil, tomato, onion, salt
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/cornmeal-focaccia-380425 (may not work)