focaccia.

I've been thinking a lot about how much this place has evolved since I first started it.  How the concept of a blog has evolved.  Instagram is the new blogging platform as people don't want long-form paragraphs about recipes or fashion or really anything.  They want instant gratification - a picture of a dish, a one liner about what you made, and then, to move-on.  I can't tell if I think that's the better approach or if there is something special about taking the time to craft a couple of sentences (heck a couple of paragraphs) about life and food.   

Does anyone want to read my thoughts?  I don't have much of a following despite doing this for the better part of 7 (!!!) years.  My lofty plans of turning this into some kind of career never really manifested (though unsure if that kind of career would even suit me).  I'm not really even sure why I continue to come back here.  Am I hoping this means something to someone?  Does it mean something to me?  Does it even matter? 

I watched the Salt Fat Acid Heat 4-part special on Netflix and got a longing to travel to Italy and Japan and then a desire to eat a massive wedge of warm focaccia.   This is the recipe from Samin Nosrat's episode on Fat.  The focaccia that emerges from the oven is perfect.   If I ever open a sandwich restaurant, all sandwiches would be served on this.   

Focaccia
Recipe from Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat

For the dough

2½ cups (600 grams) lukewarm water
½ teaspoon active dry yeast
2½ teaspoons (15 grams) honey
5 1/3 cups (800 grams) all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons (18 grams) Diamond Crystal Kosher salt or 1 tablespoon fine sea salt
¼ cup (50 grams) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for pan and finishing
Flaky salt for finishing


For the brine

1½ teaspoons (5 grams) Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
⅓ cup (80 grams) lukewarm water

In a medium bowl, stir together water, yeast, and honey to dissolve. In a very large bowl, whisk flour and salt together to combine and then add yeast mixture and olive oil. Stir with a rubber spatula  until just incorporated, then scrape the sides of the bowl clean and cover with plastic wrap. Leave out at room temperature to ferment for 12 to 14 hours until at least doubled in volume.

Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons oil evenly onto a 18-by-13 inch (46-by-33 cm) rimmed baking sheet. When dough is ready, use a spatula or your hand to release it from the sides of the bowl and fold it onto itself gently, then pour out onto pan. Pour an additional 2 tablespoons of olive oil over dough and gently spread across. Gently stretch the dough to the edge of the sheet by placing your hands underneath and pulling outward.  The dough will shrink a bit, so repeat stretching once or twice over the course of 30 minutes to ensure dough remains stretched.  

Dimple the dough by pressing the pads of your first three fingers in at an angle.  Make the brine by stirring together salt and water until salt is dissolved. Pour the brine over the dough to fill dimples.  Proof focaccia for 45 minutes until the dough is light and bubbly. 

Thirty minutes into this final proof, adjust rack to center position and preheat oven to 450°F (235°C). If you have a baking stone, place it on rack.  Otherwise, invert another sturdy baking sheet and place on rack.  Allow to preheat with the oven until very hot, before proceeding with baking. 

Sprinkle focaccia with flaky salt. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes directly on top of stone or inverted pan until bottom crust is crisp and golden brown when checked with a metal spatula.  To finish browning top crust, place focaccia on upper rack and bake for 5 to 7 minutes more.  

Remove from oven and brush or douse with 2 to 3 tablespoons oil over the whole surface (don’t worry if the olive pools in pockets, it will absorb as it sits). Let cool for 5 minutes, then release focaccia from pan with metal spatula and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. 

Serve warm or at room temperature.  

To store, wrap in parchment and then keep in an airtight bag or container to preserve texture. Gently toast or reheat any leftover focaccia before serving. Alternatively, wrap tightly to freeze, then defrost and reheat before serving.