“All sorrows are less with bread.”
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Is it just me, or does time really seem to crawl when you want life to get back to normal? Japan is still battling its worse ever crisis, the world looks on with fingers crossed, living in hope that things will get better. Hope rests on unlikely heroes, a band of brothers who work tirelessly round the clock with strength and resilience, reflecting the true spirit of the nation they belong to. The Fukushima 50, the bravest of the brave, put their lives on hold while they battle radiation risks to save impending disaster. The world salutes your spirit!
As my mind is overtaken by thoughts of Japan, the bread I post today is simple yet comforting, a good classic bread with deep taste. A few days ago, I had this obsessive desire to bake bread. The weather here is changing, warming up rather quickly, an indication that bread baking days are back again.
Often I forget to begin the bread process the previous evening; just don’t plan right. It’s such a bother! I’d had focaccia on my mind for a few days. That morning, leafing through my cookbooks and recipes {including Ottolenghi & Peter Reinhart}, figured I was late for the poolish again. Poolish is like a starter, a mother dough, and is also referred to as a pre-ferment or biga. 
Yet, bread I HAD to bake! The insane idea didn’t want to leave my head, so it was back to the net, proving for the infinite time that net dependency is something that isn’t easy to shake off! One of the first matches for ‘same day focaccia ‘ led me to Pease-Pudding! What’s not to love about the name? One step into the delicious blog and it was time to bookmark. Pease-Pudding is hosted by a North English lass who lives in New Zealand. She loves peas and she loves pudding, has a passion for desserts, hence the name.
Of the bread she said on her post, “I have made the bread three times now and each time it turns out perfect. The difference with this dough is that it is more like a wet ‘poolish‘ and not one you knead.“ We absolutely loved the focaccia. The crust and texture of both the inside and the outside were addictive. It was obvious why she had made it thrice in a week. I would too!!
A handsome splash of extra virgin olive oil, a couple of heads of roasted garlic in the dough, a sprinkling of fresh oregano, sea salt & more garlic on top. I couldn’t have asked for better, more comforting bread! It’s simple, is ready to bake in a couple of hours, and the olive oil lavished on top gives it a beautiful crust. Not sure if the addition of vital gluten had anything to do with it, but the insides were airy, light and delightfully chewy.
Recipe:Roasted Garlic Focaccia
By
Published: 2011/03/19
One of the best breads I’ve made recently. I found the recipe at yet another wonderful blog from Down Under, NZ actually, while searching for for a ‘same day focaccia recipe‘.
Minimally adapted from Pease-Pudding
Cooking time: 30minutes | Diet Type: Vegetarian | Yield: 4-6 | Culinary Tradition: Italian
Ingredients
500g plain flour
3 tbsp vital gluten
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 ½ teaspoon dry yeast
1 head roasted garlic, mashed with a fork
1 ½tsp teaspoon salt
500 ml luke warm water
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Topping:
Extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt
2-3 cloves garlic, sliced fine
Fresh oregano leaves
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 200C. In a large bowl mix with your hands flour, sugar and yeast.
Pour in the water. Add salt, roasted ,if using, and knead in the bowl for 5 minutes. Eventually add more water.
{Thermomix: Place flour, sugar and yeast in TM bowl. Run at speed 10 for 6-7 seconds. Add remaining ingredients, including the olive oil, other than the toppings and run on interval speed for 2 minutes {Don’t leave the machine unattended in interval mode}. Proceed…
Pour in about 3 tbsps of extra virgin olive oil and mix it so the oil covers the dough and goes down the side of the dough.
Allow to rise covered with plastic wrap for about 1 hour or until it doubles.
Preheat the oven to 200C.
Grease with plenty of olive oil a shallow oven dish or a baking tray with edges. Pour the dough into this without kneading any further. {I used 2 round 8″ Victoria sandwich tins}
Generously pour extra virgin olive oil onto the focaccia and press with your fingers to create multiple wells. Add toppings.
The focaccia does not need rising at this stage {but it does not harm it. It will just make it thicker}.
Bake for about 20 – 30 minutes until risen and light golden brown.
Notes: I added vital gluten because we don’t get strong bread flour in India.
Copyright © Deeba @ Passionate About Baking
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OMG! Your focaccia looks heavenly!
Miriam/The Winter Guest´s last [type] ..Potatoes sarladaises
Looks super yumm
Spectacular, Deeba! I love focaccia, but hardly ever make it, you inspired me
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A splendid Focaccia! Now I’m hungry. Anything with roasted garlic gets my vote.
Cheers,
Rosa
Great recipe and wonderful photos! I need to make this focaccia because I’ve never made one before!
Zita´s last [type] ..Chocolate-Zucchini Cupcake with Peanut Butter Frosting
Something else I have learned from trhe blogging world. Now I have to Google vital gluten because I have never heard of it until now. It sure does wonders for the foccacia!!!.
bellini´s last [type] ..Mini Maple Walnut Cheesecakes for the Top 9 Tea Party
That looks fabulously light and fluffy inside. The roasted garlic sounds like a great addition. It’s been a while since I’ve made bread, perhaps it’s time to start again.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen´s last [type] ..chocolate and milk toast when comfort is needed
This looks amazing Deeba, of course! If you ever come to the states I’ll be crushed if you don’t look me up!
Amanda´s last [type] ..Cherry Almond Cake in a Cast Iron Skillet
Your photos are so wonderful! My mouth always waters when I look at your blog. I like the idea of baking bread this week. I think you’ve inspired me yet again.
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O that is just the recipe I need!! I have a friend coming over for cooking on sunday and wanted to make a focaccia.. This seems like the perfect one to me so just printed the recipe!
And you are so right about the brave man (and maybe women too?) who are fighting at the Fukushima plant.. I was watching yesterday on the news and well, it’s just almost too gruesome to think about…
Simone´s last [type] ..Buns… failed ones that is… -
Oh, Deeba, just look at the perfect texture you’ve achieved in this foccccia, with all its lovely airy voids! And the flavors you’ve used here are right up my alley. I’m definitely making your recipe, rather than my own, from now on.
Barbara @ Modern Comfort Food´s last [type] ..Succotash Chili with Coconut Milk
Was just thinking of making one off late and here I am served the baked goody already! Lovely and wonderful flavors.
Sanjeeta kk´s last [type] ..A Few Healthy Salad Recipes in Your Platter to Chill out in Summer!
Your focaccia look amazing!! dear Deeba, I love italian breads and this look delicious! huggs xoxoxox gloria
gloria´s last [type] ..Chocolate soufflé
The focaccia looks just wonderful Deeba! I have been meaning to try a poolish focaccia since some time, but haven’t yet tried as I find the thought intimidating. This sounds pretty quick, I must try it one of these days. I love gluten in my bread too as I find it does improve the texture..
And yes, stunning pics as always, loved the first one!
Wow focaccia looks sooo prefect, beautiful clicks as ever..
Priya´s last [type] ..Eggless- Butterfree & Sugarfree Apple & Walnut Whole Wheat Cake
Wow!!! I really liked your focaccia. It looks amazing and just the right texture. And not to forget your presentation skills and photograpgy. Its just excellent!!!
dumuki.blogspot.com
Nice of you to talk about Japan. Our thoughts are with them. Beautiful focaccia!
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That really looks good! I love that it doesn’t have such daunting rise time.
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I’ve never tried Foccacia before, but with such an easy recipe I might try it soon
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Bread. Garlic. Olive Oil. You’ve hit my nirvana. We love our Foccacia but so often follow an old standy recipe I love of rosemary and sea salt; now just dying for real to goodness garlic bread.
Barbara | VinoLuciStyle´s last [type] ..Sweet Potato and Onion Casserole meets Front Range Foodies!
Focaccia has come out really lovely. WOuld have been aromatic and heavenly…
Vimitha´s last [type] ..Coriander Chutney
Really, its so terrible what people have to go through in Japan and if not for these brave people things would have been worse that it already is right now.
That bread looks GORGEOUS. I bought something similar to this from my nearby bakery yesterday for a holi party we are hosting this weekend but now this post of yours made me feel that I could have done it all by myself! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe Deeba.
BTW: Shooting you an email right now!
Prerna@IndianSimmer´s last [type] ..For Japan with Love
wow! looks amazing!
congrats!
What a beautiful foccaccia! You are right, there is nothing more comforting than some fresh baked bread. You know what they say, “bread is the staff of life.”
Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead.
*kisses* HH
That foccacia looks gorgeous! I can just imagine that it smells amazing. I will have to try this
Heidi @ Food Doodles´s last [type] ..Chocolate Chia Seed Banana Split Parfait
OMG! I must bake this foccacia! Looks so delish Deeba, thanks for the recipe
Kiran´s last [type] ..Lunch Box page
I always wanted to try, i knew i would always mess it up, i’m encouraged seeing ur pictures Deeba, they are so airy and feels like it will melt it right away ….and gorgeous pictures!
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Perfect focaccia!!! Love the hollow air pockets!!! beautiful…
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Love the props, the rotated angles, the images are a treat, plus, the bread looks like it is still warm. A delight to review.
Do you use 500 ml water to knead this, I mean is the dough expected to be watery?
The ingredients in this recipe would be delicious! I love your images as well.B
I love focaccia! That looks so fluffy and amazing.
A lovely focaccia, Deeba. I’ve never made it…would love to try this recipe!
Absolutely lovely focaccia! Now I feel like a bowl of warm soup with garlic focaccia.
That is a beautiful focaccia. I love the flavors you put on it.
Kristen´s last [type] ..Saturday Stories- A Romance
I think your first photo is a masterpiece; I don’t really care what the bread tastes like, although I am sure it is superb, the photo is absolutely incredible. You are such an artist. I am in awe.
tasteofbeirut´s last [type] ..Mastic
The bread looks fabulous and what gorgeous photo shots of it. many thanks for the referral and I hope you enjoy many more foccacia days to come! I always always make it for a friends son when they come to dinner, he is 5 and loves it very much.
I am sure you are aware of this and you must have heard this a zillion time and yet I will say this again … you are one of the best food stylist I have seen so far .. the collages are beautiful .. complimenting each other .. amazing … JUST AMAZING. You should give us some gyan on styling and photography .. seriously !
kankana´s last [type] ..Cauliflower cooked in Five Spices
true Deeba, we don’t get strong bread flour in India. Last time I made foccacia for a dinner party at home, it didn’t puff up much and was a little hard. Seems, this vital gluten does wonder to the all purpose flour. Could you please tell, where can I find this in Gurgaon?
Indeed. I got my vital gluten from Bangalore. You can find the contact etc here at Sumas blog – http://sumarowjee.blogspot.com/2010/01/whipping-cream.html . It’s an interesting place and offers much more than just vital gluten. The yeast is very good as well. {For that matter, I also really like using cocoa powder from Nilgiris down South}
Thanks a ton Deeba, good to know that they courier stuff anywhere in India.