Monday 15 September 2014

Tomato, garlic and rosemary focaccia


Last year we went to the Isle of Wight for our holiday. It's a wonderful place in so many ways but for the cook and the baker in me it produces an amazing array of produce. At Calbourne Water Mill you can see the flour being milled which you can then buy in the shop. Across the UK you'll find tomatoes grown in the Isle Of Wight by The Tomato Stall. We found them at the The Garlic Festival along with of course some the famous Isle of Wight garlic.

Ever present in my garden is a large rosemary bush. Together the combination of tomatoes, garlic and rosemary marry beautifully for this late summer sharing bread of focaccia. It's perfect for eating with a selection of cheeses and cold meats, as an accompaniment to soup or for mopping up some pasta sauce.


Equipment: 11"x7"cm (8cm x 18cm) shallow baking tray

Ingredients

5tbsp (75ml) Olive oil
2 Garlic cloves
350g Strong white flour plus extra for kneading
7g Table salt
1½ tsp (7.5ml) Easy bake/fast action dried yeast
5g Caster sugar
245ml Lukewarm water (half hot, half cold)
2 Sprigs of fresh rosemary
12 Cherry or baby plum tomatoes
Rock salt for sprinkling

Method

1. In a small bowl crush the garlic and then add 2tbsp (30ml) of the olive oil. Put to one side.
2. In a separate large bowl sift in the flour. Add the salt to one side of the bowl and the yeast and sugar to the other side of the bowl. Stir until they are all combined.
3. Make a well in the middle and add the remaining 3tbsp (45ml) of the olive oil and the water.
4. Use either a large metal spoon or your hands to mix into a dough.
5. Dust a flat surface with flour and knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it comes together in a ball. Knead by stretching out the dough, bringing back in, turn around and repeat. Add more flour if required.
6. Spread the dough flat and in the middle add 1tbsp (15ml) of the garlic infused olive oil. Bring the sides of dough in and knead the oil in.
7. Brush the baking tray with some olive oil.
8. Spread the dough out so it fills the base of the tray. Push it into the corners.
9. Brush the dough with the remaining 1tbsp (15ml) of the garlic infused olive oil and snip over the rosemary.
10. Cover with clingfilm and place in a warm spot for about an hour until it doubles in size.
11. Once it has risen heat the oven to 230°C/Gas mark 8.
12. Press the tomatoes into the focaccia. Sprinkle over the rock salt.
13. Put the focaccia into the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 200°C/Gas mark 6.
14. Cook for about 25-30 minutes until the top is golden and firm. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

Linking up with Tea Time Treats hosted by Janie at The Hedgecombers and Karen at Lavender and Lovage. This month's theme is Mediterranean. The theme for Karen's Cooking with Herbs is also Mediterranean and Indian Summer. Also linking to Recipe of the Week with Emily at A Mummy Too and Lucy at Supergolden Bakes for #CookBlogShare.





21 comments:

  1. I want to come round and help you eat this x

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  2. Oh man I look at that photo and I can almost smell it! Looks delicious.
    I must try to visit the IOW more often as I live so close to it and only ever go over for the festivals - theres a good chilli place over there I really want to get to!

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  3. Sounds and looks amazing! I may try to make this for Mr Hubby x

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  4. I love Italian food and this looks so delicious. I always buy my focaccia but will bookmark this to make.

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  5. This looks delicious. I could imagine eating it with a huge bowl of pasta.

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  6. I tried to make some focaccia and it was lovely, but I definitely need to add more salt

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  7. Wow focaccia is something I would only ever buy. To MAKE IT FROM SCRATCH is phenomenal - well done you. Making my mouth water x

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  8. This looks and sounds delicious! I think it would make a great dish to share among friends! x

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  9. What a pretty focaccia. Looks very tempting!!

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  10. This looks amazing, I love bread!

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  11. I bake a mean cake but have always been a bit scared of bread baking - I really should give it a go- that looks absolutely gorgeous!

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  12. Oh my this looks amazing, I've never tried Focaccia before

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  13. Oh my goodness that sounds absolutely delicious. x

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  14. This looks and sounds delicious

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  15. I love making focaccia and this one looks so good :-) x #RecipeoftheWeek

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  16. My husband would love this. I'll have to give it a go, thanks.

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  17. I love baking bread and I keep seeing focaccia recipes but I'm yet to try it, maybe this one will tip me over the edge and I'll give it a whirl, it certainly sounds delicious :-)
    #Recipeoftheweek

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  18. I now have a big fat craving for focaccia! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your recipe with Tea Time Treats, this bread is the perfect entrant!
    Janie x

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  19. JUST pass it over now! LOL! My kinda baking! Karen

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I appreciate your comments. If you have any tips, tricks or tweaks please pass them on!