Been working on my Sourdough Focaccia for some time and feels like I’m just getting it to the next level.

by KianOfPersia

4 Comments

  1. KianOfPersia

    Hey everyone posted this in the r/Sourdough subreddit and thought why not here too! I’ve been probably on an over 1 year quest to get what I feel is an amazing focaccia product. My definition of this would be a crunchy/crisp top and bottom while having an airy/pillow like interior with lots of bubbles and airholes. I’m constantly tweaking it but here’s my current setup and thought I should share.

    300g King Arthur Bread Flour

    225g warm water

    200g very ripe starter (100% hydration) – feed at least overnight if wanting to start this in the morning.

    7g sea salt

    7g olive oil

    Whatever toppings you wish (Rosemary, finishing flake salt, Parmesan, etc.)

    1 tsp diastatic malt powder

    Tools

    8×9 pan

    Pizza Steal (but not 100% necessary)

    I put all the ingredients stated above together into a shaggy dough. I let sit for 30 minutes to let the dough hydrate fully in a tall bowl covered in a damp cloth. I do a series of 3-4 stretch and folds about 20 minutes apart until there is some very strong gluten formation going on. I let is sit in the bowl under the damp cloth for about an hour or so after that to get some gas. Should probably get 50% increase in size.

    I transfer into a 8×9 pan that is completely coating with a thin layer of olive oil on the bottom. I carefully stretch the dough out as far as it would want to go (but probably won’t go all the way first try). I let the dough relax 15 min or so and stretch out again until most corners are covered. This may take 2 attempts.

    For a final proof, I put the tray in an off oven and light on with near boiling water in another pan to keep the air in the oven moist. This final proof will take 1-2 hours and by now, the focaccia should be very gassy and ready to bake.

    place oven at 475f and I use a pizza steal as well. Add whatever toppings you think you like. In my case, I used rosemary, parmesan cheese, and flakey sea salt. Add additional olive oil on top as well and dimple the dough in the pan.

    Place the focaccia 8×9 tray on the pizza steal (middle rack) for about 15-20 minutes until the top is nice and brown. Remove the pan and now place the focaccia directly on the pizza steal for 4-5 minutes so the bottom gets brown and crisp. Remove and place on a wire rack until it gets cook enough to enjoy.

    Update – I’m in the dead of winter where I live and my house is at currently 71f so that may impact fermentation time. The oven method really works to speed things along though.

  2. deelish85

    Yeah, I think that’s called perfection!

    Thanks for sharing the recipe!!

  3. VinceCully

    Well done! I saw your original post yesterday. After I finish making Maurizio’s English muffins, your recipe is up next!

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