Focaccia with green olives,onion rings and thyme

When it comes to watching TV, many gets surprised that even being a woman I don’t watch much of it. I cant watch movies on TV because I don’t have patence to sit for that long and my “Task to do” keeps popping up in my head and “Soap Opera” we don’t get along. Its only been quite a few food and travel shows which could get my attention. Among them I love Masterchef Australia and lately I have got to learn a lot from food safari.

Focaccia is one of dishes/recipes I got to know through this show. it is a flat oven-baked Italian bread, which may be topped with herbs or other ingredients.

Focaccia’s dough is  similar in style and texture to pizza dough, consisting of high-gluten flour, water, salt and yeast. It is typically rolled out or pressed by hand into a thick layer of dough and then baked in a stone-bottom or hearth oven. Bakers often dot the bread to create multiple wells by finger to relieve bubbling on the surface of the bread.

The recipe fits into my philosophy I tried my hand on it and what I had was unbelievable good looking flat bread which is chewy yet soft and moist from inside. I have tried few versions but today I am sharing Focaccia with green olive and onion rings and thyme.
Genrally  focaccia is made in square shape but I got away with me lazy streak and made it oval this time

150 gm  Flour

1 tsp Dry Yeast

1 tsp Sugar

1 tsp Salt plus a pinch or two

3-4 Cloves Garlic, chopped

1 cups Lukewarm water

1 Egg, whisked

3-4 Sprigs of fresh thyme

2 Tbsp Olive

1 small red onion, peeled and ringed

8-10 Green olives, pitted and sliced

Freshly crushed peppers

Mix the flour, yeast, salt, sugar, warm water and egg to form a firm, yet soft dough.

Flour the dough lightly and let it rise until it has doubled in size. Keep in covered with a wet cloth or cling film to preserve the moisture in the bread.

Place the chopped garlic cloves and thyme in a bowl with some olive oil and leave it for an hour.

Once the dough has doubled in size, punch out the air with your fingers and let it rise again for 30 minutes.

After the second rise, roll the dough into a large oval (you can do a rectangle, if you want to go traditional way).

Make small holes in the dough with your little finger, without pushing out the air.

 Spread the oil mixture evenly on the surface of the bread. Place the onion rings and olives on the bread. Sprinkle some salt and freshly crushed peppers.

Place the bread on a greased baking tray and bake in a preheated oven at 200 ºC for 15-30 minutes until the bread is golden brown in color.
Serve hot with your choice of dip, i like curd with butter roasted garlic dip. Try it out!!