With crispy edges and a pillowy soft inside, this focaccia is sure to be a crowd pleaser, if you can save enough for the crowd without gobbling it all up yourself! Using simple methods and basic ingredients, it’s also a snap to make.
Ingredients
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5 to 5 ¼ cups of all-purpose flour
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1 packet active yeast
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3 tsp salt (I used pink Himalayan sea salt)
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2 warm cups water
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½ cup olive oil
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2-3 tablespoons za’atar spice*
Instructions
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In a large bowl add water and sugar. Whisk.
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Sprinkle yeast over bowl and let rest for about 5 minutes.
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Slowly pour in olive oil and mix to fully incorporate.
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Add half the flour and mix with a wooden spoon. Then add the rest of the flour.
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Knead dough until a loose ball has formed.
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In a clean, oiled bowl, place dough and cover with a dish towel. Let rise for about 4 to 5 hours. The longer it rises, the more complex the flavor will be.
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Roll out dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet and flatten it to cover the entire baking sheet.
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Preheat oven to 350F.
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Let rise a second time for about 20 minutes. It will not double, but will puff up a bit.
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Wet fingers with warm water and poke holes all over the top of the dough.
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Drizzle olive oil over dough and then sprinkle with Za’atar spice. Put as much oil and spice as you want here. I personally like to load it up!
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In a baking pan lined with parchment paper, place dough and slowly stretch out until its covered the whole surface.
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Dip fingers into a little olive oil and press 3 middle fingers into the bread slowly with pressure to form small indentations in the dough.
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Let dough rise again for about 30 minutes. In the meantime, preheat oven to 350 F.
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Bake for 30 minutes.
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Remove from oven and drizzle more olive oil on top.
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Enjoy!
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Bread is always best fresh, but this well keep pretty well on the counter for a few days. Just be sure to cover it with a dish towel so that it doesn’t’ dry out. Highly recommend warming up before eating!
