Rosemary Focaccia Bread
- 1 Tablespoon Active Dry Yeast
- 1 Tablespoon Sugar
- 1 cup Tepid Water
- 1 Tablespoon Dried Rosemary Mixed In The Below Amount Of Hot Water
- 1 Tablespoon Hot Water
- 2 Tablespoons Melted Butter
- 2-1/2 cups Flour
- 1-1/2 Tablespoon Vital Wheat Gluten
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Additional Butter To Brush Hot Loaves With And Coarse Salt For Sprinkling, If Desired
- Mix yeast, sugar and warm water in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes to become bubbly. Add the dried rosemary that you've first mixed with the hot water and mix to combine. Mix in the melted butter.
- Place the dry ingredients (flour, gluten and salt) in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add wet ingredients. Use the dough hook to combine the mixture, mixing for about 6 minutes.
- While dough mixes, bring several cups of water to a boil (you can do this in a saucepan or heat it in the microwave).
- Preheat oven to lowest setting (about 170 F).
- Once the oven heats to 170 F, turn the oven off. Pour the boiling water into an oven safe dish and set it in the oven to help create a moist, warm environment for dough to rise faster.
- Place dough into an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place it in the warm oven (the heat should still be off). Let it rise for 1 hour or until nearly doubled in size.
- Punch down dough. Shape into two loaves. Set the loaves on a Silpat-lined or greased baking sheet, baking stone, etc.
- Spray dough lightly with cooking spray. Again, warm oven at lowest setting and then turn it off. Place loaves in the warm, moist oven until nearly doubled in size.
- Remove the risen loaves from the oven and preheat oven to 375 F.
- Put the loaves into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes on center rack. After 15 minutes, turn up the oven temperature to 425-430 F, leaving bread in the oven. Once the oven hits this temperature, set your timer for 5 minutes and cook the loaves until the timer goes off. This will help to get the loaves deep, golden brown.
- Remove from oven. Brush with butter and sprinkle coarse salt on top.
- Serve with olive oil and freshly cracked pepper.
- * Note: you do not have to allow the dough to rise in a warm, moist oven. It will rise on the counter, but I prefer to speed the process and this helps in the cool, dry months.
active dry yeast, sugar, water, rosemary, water, butter, flour, vital, salt, butter
Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/breads/rosemary-focaccia-bread-2/ (may not work)