Onion Focaccia
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 12 cups warm water (105-115F or 40 - 46C)
- 12 cup olive oil, plus extra for greasing
- 1 12 teaspoons table salt
- 4 -4 14 cups bread flour, plus extra as needed
- 12 cup chopped yellow onion
- coarse sea salt, for sprinkling
- In a heavy duty mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, sprinkle the yeast and a pinch of the sugar over 1/2 cup of the water and stir to dissolve.
- Let stand at room temperature until foamy, about 10 minutes.
- Add the remaining water and sugar, 1/4 cup of the olive oil, table salt, and 1 cup of the flour.
- Beat on medium speed until cream, about 1 minute.
- Add 1 more cup of flour and beat on medium-low speed for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the onion.
- Switch to the dough hook.
- On low speed, beat in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a soft, shaggy dough forms that starts to pull away from the bowl sides.
- Knead on low speed, adding flour 1 tablespoon at a time if the dough sticks, until moist, soft, and slightly sticky, about 6 minutes.
- Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.
- Line a heavy rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and brush the paper lightly with oil.
- Turn the dough out onto the prepared sheet.
- With oiled fingers, press and flatten the dough into an oval 1 inch thick.
- Cover loosely with oiled plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
- It will be at least 2 inches thick.
- With your fingertips, make deep indentations 1 inch apart all over the surface of the dough, almost to the bottom of the pan.
- Drizzle with the remaining olive oil.
- Cover loosely with plastic and let rise at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Place a baking stone on the bottom oven rack and preheat to 425F ( I didn't use a stone).
- Sprinkle the bread lightly with the coarse salt.
- Place the pan on the stone and bake until the bread is lightly browned, 20- 25 minutes.
- Check the bottom and bake for a few extra minutes if it is pale.
- Slide the bread onto a rack.
- Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into squares or wedges.
- Variations: Herb- Sprinkle 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary, sage, basil, oregano, or summer savory over the dough before topping with oil and salt.
- Olive and Sundried tomato-Sprinkle 1/2 cup pitted black olives and 1/4 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes over the dough before topping with oil and salt.
- Cheese- Sprinkle 1 cup crumbled Gorgonzola or 1 cup grated Parmesan or Asiago over teh dough after drizzling with oil.
- Omit the salt.
active dry yeast, sugar, water, olive oil, salt, yellow onion, salt
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/onion-focaccia-419785 (may not work)