Just Baking

Focaccia is kind of like pizza’s puffier, less dressed cousin.  However, this is one of those rare occasions where nakedness conveys class instead of trash.  Instead of being slandered in the food tabloids for coming out of the oven wearing little more than some onions and herbs, focaccia is held in high esteem, like a James Beard award winner.  Maybe it’s the fancy name, maybe it’s the lack of messy red sauce, but it’s fully acceptable to serve focaccia as an appetizer at an adults only dinner party.  What’s more, it will even garner oohs and ahhs and requests for the recipe.  Pizza can only dream of being accepted at that same party, it just wouldn’t happen.  More importantly though, focaccia is easy to make.  Try classing up your next dinner party with this minimal effort finger food.  Feel free to play around with the toppings, but remember not to overdo it, save the excess for sports, pizza and beer nights.

Onion Focaccia
(adapted from an old recipe printed from epicurious.com that no longer seems to be online)

1 cup lukewarm water
1 packet dry active yeast
1 tsp sugar
½ tsp salt
7 T olive oil
3 cups all purpose flour
1 onion
3 T white balsamic vinegar
10 fresh sage leaves, chopped
Goat cheese
Sea salt
Ground black pepper and garlic

Combine water and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer and let sit about 5 minutes until foamy.  Add the sugar, salt, 3 T of olive oil and flour and with the dough hook in place, mix about 5 minutes until dough has come together and is smooth.  You may need to add a little more warm water if the mixture seems too dry.  Remove the ball of dough from the mixer and place it in an oiled bowl, turning to coat.  Cover the bowl and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.

Meanwhile, heat 1 T olive oil in a pan.  Thinly slice the onion and add to the pan.  When the onions begin to soften, add the balsamic vinegar and sage leaves and continue to simmer until all of the balsamic has been absorbed by the onions.  Remove from heat.

Preheat the oven to 400 °F.

Punch the dough down and then roll it out into a rectangle and place on a baking sheet.  The shape isn’t really important, my focaccia is usually misshapen, it gives it character.  Poke the dough with your fingers to create dimples and then smear the dough with 3 T of oil.  Spread the onion mixture on top of the dough, dot with goat cheese, sprinkle with sea salt and grind some fresh black pepper and garlic on top to finish.

Put the focaccia in the oven.  Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until crust is golden on the bottom.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly before slicing.