Discover the delightful aroma and perfect texture of homemade focaccia bread, now made effortlessly with your trusty bread maker. This versatile Italian flatbread is a crowd-pleaser, perfect for appetizers, sandwiches, or simply as a side dish. Let's dive into this scrumptious, hands-off recipe that's sure to impress.
Using a bread maker for focaccia bread might seem unconventional, but it actually enhances the dough's rise and consistency, making the process more convenient. Plus, it frees up your time and counter space. Here's how you can create this incredible focaccia bread recipe in your bread maker, step by step.
Ingredients and Preparation
Before we start, gather your ingredients:
- 1 1/3 cups (320ml) water
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 3 1/4 cups (400g) bread flour, plus extra for dusting
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (7g) salt
- 1 tablespoon (9g) active dry yeast
- Fennel seeds (optional)
- Coarse sea salt (for sprinkling)
Now, let's prepare your ingredients and set up your bread maker for this delightful recipe.
Setting Up Your Bread Maker
The specific settings may vary based on your bread maker model. For this recipe, set your bread maker to the 'Dough' cycle. If your machine has a 'Focaccia' setting, you can use that instead. Ensure the rise time is set according to your machine's instructions. For this recipe, a 45-minute rise time works best.
If your bread maker doesn't have a specific setting for focaccia, you can use the 'Basic/White' cycle with an extended rise time or perform the dough cycle manually, adjusting the rise time as needed.
Combining the Ingredients
In a measuring jug, combine the water and olive oil. Pour this mixture into the bread maker's pan. Add the salt and bread flour on top, ensuring they're evenly distributed. Finally, sprinkle the yeast over the top.
If you're using an optional ingredient like fennel seeds, add them now. Place the pan into the bread maker, ensuring it's centered and secure.
Baking the Focaccia Bread
Now that your ingredients are all set, it's time to start the bread maker. Select the appropriate cycle and press 'Start.' Once the cycle is complete, carefully remove the pan from the bread maker and gently deactivate the dough.
The dough will be quite sticky, which is normal for focaccia. Lightly flour a large, rimmed baking sheet or pizza pan. Gently transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet, ensuring it's smooth and even. If you'd like, you can use wet hands to manipulate the dough, adding more flour as needed.
Proving and Baking
Cover the baking sheet with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let it rest in a warm, draft-free place for about 30 minutes. During this time, preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). After the dough has proofed, use your fingers to gently press dimples into the surface of the dough.
Drizzle the dough with a little more olive oil and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Bake the focaccia for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
Cooling and Serving
Once done, remove the focaccia from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the bread to maintain its soft interior and helps prevent steam from making the bottom soggy.
Your homemade focaccia bread is now ready to enjoy! Slice it, plate it, and watch it disappear. You've just created a delightful, Artisan-style focaccia bread with the help of your bread maker – impressive!
Now that you've mastered focaccia bread in your bread maker, why not experiment with different toppings and variations? Add sun-dried tomatoes, olives, caramelized onions, or rosemary for a twist that's sure to tantalize your taste buds. Happy baking!