Olive focaccia

Making bread isn't as hard as you might think. This foccacia is topped with olives and garlic for a delicious bake that will make your whole house smell gorgeous.

Ingredients

  • 700g plain flour

  • 300g wholemeal flour

  • 600ml warm water

  • 1 tbsp dried yeast

  • 2 tbsp sugar

  • 1 tbsp salt

  • ½ cup pitted olives

    cut in half

  • ⅓ cup olive oil

  • 2 cloves garlic

    smashed

  • salt and pepper

Allergy Advice

Contains Gluten

Equipment

  • 1 Jug
  • 1 Wooden spoon
  • 1 Large bowl
  • 1 Fork
  • 1 Plastic wrap
  • 1 Small bowl
  • 1 Baking tray
  • 1 Wire rack

Instructions

  1. In a jug, add yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar to warm water, stir with a wooden spoon then leave for 5 minutes to activate – a foam will appear.
  2. Add flours, remaining sugar and salt to a large bowl.
  3. After 5 minutes, pour yeasty liquid into the flours and gently stir with a fork. Once it begins to combine slightly, continue kneading with your hand.
  4. Add a dusting of flour to your bench and tip out dough. Knead for 5-7 minutes, so your dough is smooth and elastic.
  5. Clean out your bowl, sprinkle with a little flour and place your dough in it. Cover with glad wrap and place in a warm area until it doubles in size (approx 1 hour).
  6. Meanwhile, combine oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl and leave to infuse the oil.
  7. Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down with your fist, add olives and knead to combine.
  8. Leave to rise one more time for about 30 minutes (it is usually a lot faster).
  9. After the second rising, get out a baking tray, brush with garlic oil and press dough into all corners. Once the dough is even – about 3cm in height – cover with plastic again and pop back into a warm spot to rise for about 25 minutes.
  10. Preheat oven to 200°C. Brush the top of the dough with garlic oil then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Poke your finger into the dough to make a pattern.
  11. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes.
  12. Cool on a wire rack, serve warm.

Notes

Tip
In the bread-making world, the rising process is called proving.
Tip
I put my bread out on the BBQ in the sun and it proves beautifully. Bread is great to make if you are around the house for half a day- perfect for weekends!
Variation
If you are making the bread with all plain flour then use about 100ml less of water.
Storage
This bread freezes well if wrapped in a plastic bag. When reheating just pop it into a moderate oven for 10-15 minutes.

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