.: coriander onion and cheese focaccia

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

coriander onion and cheese focaccia

Working with yeast is quite tricky...sometimes it blooms and sometimes it doesn't ...it takes a bit of time and patience to understand this difficult but magical ingredient!So after a series of sweet and sour experiences with yeast now I have started enjoying working with it..as the universal rules applies here too"Practice makes perfect"!!

The first time I tried focaccia it was heartbreaking... seriously baking has the power to make you spring with joy watching your rising cake or heavenly bread or make you upset and behave like a distraught kid in case of a sinking cake or a rubbery bread !!!

Recently I tried stuffed buns which turned out great...so I mustered up the courage to try focaccia again.

And yes it turned out fab this time and brought a big smile on my face !!!
Focaccia is an oven baked Italian bread seasoned with olive oil ,herbs and topped with onion,cheese etc.You can flavour it depending your choice and availability of ingredients.I used coriander,onion and cheese which turned out good and tasted quite similar to the masala bread I used to get in a bakery near my place in Delhi.I still remember that bakery..It was called Angel's basket and had the most amazing and delicious bakery products from pastries to breads,muffins, cakes...!!!Someday ,sometime I will go there for sure !!!
As of now let us talk about Focaccia !!!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup All purpose flour

1/2 cup chopped coriander

Half onion chopped and roasted

2 tsp active dried yeast

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp grated cheese(cheddar)

1 tbsp olive oil

1 green chilli(chopped)

1/4 cup warm water

Salt to taste

Method

Mix yeast in warm water and leave it till to activate.In the meantime mix together the flour, salt, garlic powder,chillies and half of coriander leaves in a mixing bowl.Once the yeast has frothed, add it to the flour mix and knead till the dough becomes soft.Lightly grease a bowl, place the dough in it, cover with a wet cloth and set aside in a warm place to rise.After about 2 hours, the dough would have doubled in size, so punch it down, knead for about 2 to 3 minutes and place it in a baking pan.Dimple it at intervals with your finger.Top with the remaining coriander leaves ,roasted onions and cheese and keep aside for an hour or so to proof again.Once the dough has risen again place in an oven preheated at 180C.Bake for 17 to 20 minutes or till golden brown.