Just Baking

Fragrant Rosemary Parmesan Focaccia is the perfect accompaniment to soups and salads. This is a flexible, forgiving recipe, so even if you don’t have much experience with yeast breads, you’ll have a hit with this one. Don’t worry if you don’t have fresh rosemary on hand. Feel free to substitute parsley, thyme, or oregano—whatever suits the dish you’ll be serving it with. And that goes for the cheese, too. This is lovely with almost any grated hard cheese, or even a good crumbled blue cheese. Serve it warm, fresh from the oven.

Rosemary Parmesan Focaccia

• 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 envelope (.25 ounce) quick-rise yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 11/4 cups very warm water
• 3 to 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, rinsed and patted dry
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Combine 4 cups all-purpose flour, quick-rise yeast, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir to distribute yeast. Add olive oil, vegetable oil, and water to dry ingredients in bowl. Using a wooden spoon, stir until the mixture comes together into a soft dough.
2. If your bowl is large enough, you can knead the dough directly in the bowl. Sprinkle the surface of the dough and your hand with flour, and knead for a few minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
3. Brush the surface of the dough lightly with oil and cover the bowl with a cloth. Place in a warm area free from drafts to let rise.
4. Let dough rise until it is at least double in size. (With quick-rise yeast, this will take between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on the temperature of the place it is rising in.) In the meantime, prepare the topping ingredients. Strip enough fresh rosemary leaves from their stems to equal approximately 2 to 3 tablespoons. Chop rosemary.
5. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly oil a 15-inch x 10-inch jelly-roll pan.
6. Place the dough in the oiled pan and use your hands to stretch it to fit. Lightly brush the dough with extra-virgin olive oil. Sprinkle dough evenly with chopped rosemary, chopped garlic, shredded Parmesan cheese, coarse salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Bake at 450 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.Makes 15 to 20 pieces.