Saturday 16 October 2010

Rosemary and Sundried Tomato Focaccia



Ever since I moved into the present flat of ours I have become kind of a plant aficionado. Most of the things around look edible in my eyes. I pluck few leaves and sniff them to see if they give out any scent, pluck berries, fruits etc and research on their details with some vague information. It wasn’t a waste of time at all. Among quite a few other stuffs, I also discovered that the outrageously growing bush all around our estate is Rosemary! Wow. I was quite exited and have been looking out for recipes that use rosemary. Talking about rosemary, it is a herb with quite hard and spiky leaves and that has a mint-like smell.


Among the entire set of recipes that I came across, focaccia was something that really fascinated me. I have also come across some lamb shank recipes that use rosemary for flavouring. Rosemary grows wildly like any grass or bush you see anywhere. I thought I have to use into something before I shift from here and decided to give a go with focassia. I referred James Martin’s recipe for the basic dough but tweaked it much by adding Sundried tomatoes in olive oil


Focaccia is an Italian staple which is enjoyed by old world bakers as a snack between laborious efforts of bread baking. Focassia has ever since made a name for itself as a premier sandwich loaf. This rustic recipe with rosemary and sundried tomatoes through out can be made into 2 smaller loaves or one large loaf and used in sandwiches ~ Sandwiches Panini and Wraps by Dwayne Ridgeway.
I made a swiss oatmeal soup to go along with it and it tasted great. I read focassia is something like a pizza base, but I thought it had its own difference. The bread was slightly chewy and crumbly rather than soft and tear-apart kind of texture. You can try your own variations of it like adding black olives, cheese, tomatoes, different herbs etc. Here is the one that I baked last week and this goes to 5th World Bread Day.
World Bread Day 2010 (submission date October 16)

Ingredients:

500g Bread flour (3 cups plus 6 Tablespoons)
1 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
1 tsp salt
1 teaspoon castor sugar
2 teaspoons finely chopped rosemary leaves
300 mls tepid (Lukewarm) water
3 Tablespoon olive oil (I used flavoured oil from the sundried tomato Jar)
75g (1/2 cup) chopped sundried tomato in flavoured olive oil
Few extra twigs of rosemary

Preparations:


1. In a large bowl sift flour, salt, sugar, yeast, chopped rosemary and mix well.

2. Add 2 Tablespoon of oil and rub well. Gradually mix in the water and knead for about 8-10 minutes until a soft, smooth and elastic dough forms. When the dough is smooth, smear the dough with the remaining tablespoon of oil. The dough should be elastic but not sticky at all.

3. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover it loosely with oiled cling film. Leave to rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours or until the dough has risen well and has doubled in size.

4. Knock back the dough by punching it down with fist. Add chopped sundried tomatoes and knead for couple of minutes to incorporate them well into the dough.

5. Lightly flour a work area and roll the dough into ¾ inch thick and 9” round. You can also divide the dough into 2 smaller loaves instead of a making a single massive loaf. You can also make it in rectangle. Place it on a greased baking tray and leave it to rise for 30 minutes, or until doubled in size. If the weather is dry, like in the UK, cover it loosely with oiled cling film (If the cling film is not oiled, dough will stick to it and make a mess).

6. Meanwhile heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Take off the cling film and make several indentations with your fingers all over the surface of the dough. Lightly brush with olive oil (I used oil in the sundried tomato jar) and lightly insert few rosemary twigs into the indentations.

7. Bake for around 20 minutes or until golden brown all over. If you tap the underside of the bread at this point, I should sound hollow if it is well cooked. Cool on a wire rack and slice into wedges if made in circles or squares if made into large rectangles. Serve alongside your favourite soup or use it in sandwiches.

Notes:

1.I used plain flour instead of bread flour.

2. It is important to oil the cling film as the dough sticks to it otherwise.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Focaccia looks perfect!

Suhaina said...

wow.. the bread looks exotic with all those rosemary and dried tomatoes.. wonderful mind blowing clicks too.. love it...

shifa firoz said...

i have thinking to bake focaccia for a long time but never got time.. insha allah may try ur recipe soon :)

Ms.Chitchat said...

Very interesting,would love to try. Perfect click reflecting the texture of the dish.

Fajeeda said...

foccacia looks awesome.............pics r grt dear............

Pushpa said...

Yummy and flavorful focaccia...

Pushpa @ simplehomefood.com

Finla said...

Yupieeeeeeeeeeee you posted them for the world bbread day :-)
Looks fab, Shab's that is rilling isn't it :-)
Wowo wish i had that huge rosemary bush. When ever i need them i buy in those small pots from teh market and it last for few months, i keep them in the balcony , how i wish i had a garden.

Umm Mymoonah said...

Focaccia is always my favourite bread. As always great looking pictures.

Priya Suresh said...

Absolutely beautiful looking focaccia..awesome!

Swathi said...

Rosemary Focaccia looks delicious. nice airy bread.

Nithya said...

Looks so perfect and yummy :)

I'm a big fan of your clicks :)

Sarah-Jane - SiliconeMoulds.com said...

that's a lot of rosemary. I love onions and rosemary in bread - will need to take photos next time I make it.

Ironically (before I planted out some rosemary bushes in the garden) I used to pick mine in Sainsbury's car park ! The carpark was surrounded by rosemary bushes until they ripped them all out when they made the store bigger !

Looks lovely Shabs :-)

Ushnish Ghosh said...

Dear Shab
Dussera greetings to you
I was bit tied up and could not read any of your blog.
I like rosemary flavor.
Superb photography , as usual.
Let me see what posts have I missed ..
There is a Biriyani waiting for you at my blog...you will like it .
Have a nice week

Nitha said...

Focaccia looks great tto.. njan ethu vare taste cheythittilla.. But athinte flavours okke kaanumbol thanne nalla eshtam thonnunnu..

Sarah Naveen said...

Beautiful clicks..looks so delicious..

Rachana said...

A flavourful focaccia. Awesome clicks!

Barbara Bakes said...

We love rosemary with lemon and chicken, so I know I'd love your rosemary bread. It looks perfect.

Unknown said...

Am loving ur look of ur focassias..looks perfectly baked Shabs!

Bergamot said...

Looks perfect

Divya Kudua said...

Breads breads everywhere..Love the Focaccia bread.Your pics are awesome!!

Unknown said...

Hi Shabs,

Looks gorgeous...yummm..Just followed you...:)

Dr.Sameena@

www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com

Raks said...

Thank you so much for the sweet words at my space,good to hear from you,last week same through sharmilee I got introduced to your blog as well :) Happy to follow you :)

Focaccia looks very porous in texture,nice recipe!

Pari Vasisht said...

Nice clicks and perfectly baked focaccia.
FOODELICIOUS

vandana rajesh said...

First time here... the bread looks really nice...u have an amazing collection of recipes and beautiful pics.
www.cookingupsomethingnice.blogspot.com

zorra said...

Fabulous Foccacia, arround my house I have also tons of Rosemarie bushes. Thank you for joining World Bread Day.

Unknown said...

Wow.. this is really a tasty dish, but loved the addition of rosemary used to make it more delicious.:) My hubby being a great fan of Focaccia he would love this for sure..will try this shabs :)
Btw pavakka chammanthi tastes slightly bitter and tangy at the same time.do give a try its good one for sure..

archana said...

Wow, imagine that, a rosemary fence sort of ! Loved all the pics,lighting is perfect.

San said...

Hi,first time to your blog.Not sure how i missed your blog ,wonderful space(following u) .B'day wishes to you ! Focaccia is stunning n very inviting shabs.

Zita said...

Love rosemary, beautiful foccacia :)

Zoyah said...

Shabs!

This looks absolutely yummmm!
I love focaccia! And my mum loves it even more :)

Haven't been by your space in a while (school is so busy) - love the look!

Will definitely try and stop by more often :)

xoxo

Zoyah

Deeba PAB said...

Was that rosemary growing there? Gosh, I am so envious. Do you have seeds for it? I would absolutely love to grow some. My single little plant just died and I am weeping copious tears over it. What a great focaccia!

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