Italian Focaccia Bread With Onions Bread

 

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Italian Focaccia Bread With Onions

Yield: 1 Focaccia Loaf

Ingredients

1.5 cups (375 ml) warm water (105-115 F / 40-46 C)
1 tbsp (15 g) brown sugar

1 tbsp (10 g) active dry yeast

1/2 cup (125 ml) extra light olive oil, divided

1.5 tsp (12 g) salt

4.5 cups (670 g) bread flour

1/2 cup (60 g) chopped yellow onions

Coarse salt

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup (125 ml) of the warm water and a pinch of sugar. Sprinkle the yeast on top and stir to dissolve. Let rest 10 minutes until foamy.

2. Add the remaining water, sugar, 1/4 cup (62 ml) of olive oil, salt and 1 cup (155 g) of the flour. Mix with a spatula until creamy.

3. Add another cup (155 g) of the bread flour. Mix well. 

4. Add the rest of the flour, one scoop at a time and combine well with your spatula. When it gets too tough with the spatula, pour out the dough onto your work surface and gently knead in the remaining flour. Add the onions to the dough and knead until they are well distributed.

5. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with cling film and let rest in a warm spot for 20 minutes.

6. Oil a 9 x 13 inch (22 cm  x 33 cm) pan. Turn the dough out into the pan. Flatten the dough with oiled fingers to the shape of the pan. Cover with oiled cling film and let rest in a warm spot for about 1 hour until doubled in bulk.

7. With oiled fingers, "dimple" the dough, pushing your fingertips down to the bottom of the pan. Make sure you oil your fingers after each dimpling so you don't deflate the dough too much. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil, cover with cling film and let rest 30 minutes.

8. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 425 F (220 C, gas mark 7). If you have a pizza stone, keep that in your oven to help with the heat.

9. Sprinkle the focaccia bread with coarse salt. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Check under the bread to make sure it's a nice dark brown.

10. Remove the focaccia from the pan immediately using a metal spatula to loosen the sides; and let cool on a rack before serving.

Variations for toppings: 

- rosemary, sage, basil and oregano

- sun-dried tomatoes and black olives

- Parmesan cheese and goat cheese

- chopped garlic

- omit the onions and use the focaccia bread as a pizza dough

⬆️⬆️ For Video Instructions, please check out my video How To Make Italian Focaccia Bread With Onions!

⬆️⬆️ Please check out my Pour In The Pan Pizza (Focaccia Style Pizza Dough) video.

⬆️⬆️ I'm also sharing my Homemade Pizza Sauce video and recipe!