Focaccia is popular in Italy and is usually seasoned with olive oil, salt, sometimes herbs, and may at times be topped with cheese, onion, tomatoes and can be flavored with a number of vegetables or meat.
Focaccia can be used as a side to many meals, as a base for pizza, or as sandwich bread.
Focaccia is loved by all at my home. Just thought of giving it a twist and Made Focaccia bread Naaaa "Focaccia Muffins". I was bit skeptical before trying focaccia's dough in muffin pan but to my surprise these cutie pies not only came as joy of bundles in muffin pan but also in Bundt cupcake tray toooooo.
However my twist was- APF(Maida):Whole Wheat Flour(Atta) in 2:1 ratio and I added Zaatar to the dough. N believe me Zaatar was taking this already yumm bread to another level of heavenliness(In my Son's words ;))
In Arabic, Zaatar means thyme; it is actually a blend of dried thyme, sesame seeds and sumac. And it is this combination that gives Zaatar its unique flavor.
Zaatar is used through out the middle east , sprinkled on hummus, on grilled chicken, mixed in with feta cheese or combined with tomatoes and onions. Or simply combined with olive oil, to make a tasty paste for dipping bread.
I Served the bread with chunky salsa.
Sooo happy to share with you allll.
INGREDIENTS:
For Bread:
2cups All purpose flour(Maida)
1cup Whole Wheat flour(Atta)
2 tsp Instant yeast
1 tsp sugar
1 3/4 cup lukewarm water
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp Zaatar
For Toppings:
1 Onion(Medium cut into roundels or chunks)
½ Red Bell Pepper (Cut into Julliens)
¼th Yellow Bell Pepper (Cut into Julliens)
1/4th Green Bell Pepper (Cut into Julliens)
1/4th Orange Bell Pepper (Cut into Julliens)
1 Tbsp Green Olives
1 Tbsp Black Olives
3 Cherry Tomatoes ( Slice them or simply cut them into four parts)
2 Tbsp Oregano
Salt to taste.
( You can add vegetables of your choice. You can use other vegetables like Zucchini also. There is no set rule for toppings. Add the things you like or whatever is available with you).
DIRECTIONS:
Start by warming the water. Warm ¾ th cup of water, just make it lukewarm, don't make it hot. ( If the water is either too hot or not warm enough the yeast will not froth).
Take the water and add sugar to it. Mix it well.
Now add yeast to this warm water and sugar solution. It should start bubbling.
Keep aside the water and yeast mix for 10 minutes.
Add Salt and Zaatar with the flour.
After 10 mins you will see a frothy n bubbly mix of yeast.Now add the yeast mix to flour. Start adding water little by little. Mix well with hands.( I like mixing with hand to feel the texture of the dough. You can use a stand mixer also).
Now add 2 tbsp of Olive oil.
Bring the dough together by adding water little by little. We have to bring it together with light hands and not knead it. The dough will be sticky.
Put 1 tablespoon olive oil in the bowl and rub dough ball all over with the oil.
Take a kitchen towel and make it little wet and warm it by microwaving it for 20-30 secs.
Cover the dough with the warm towel and Keep it in a nice warm place for 1 hour, so it doubles in size.
In the meantime prepare your Muffin/ Cupcake tray and Pans to make the bread.
Grease them with oil.
After one hour take the dough out.
Now lightly oil your fingers and make small lemon sized balls. Keep these balls in Muffin tray.
OR you can spread the dough in a Pan tray also.
(Just be sure the dough should not fill the pan/ tray. It should take only ¼th of space in height.)
Leave your trays for another half an hour at a warm place. Let the dough rise further.
After half an hour you will see it has risened more.
Use fingers to create the holes/dimples in focaccia and garnish/decorate with all the toppings, olives and herbs. Drizzle some olive oil. Arrange your toppings.
Keep in middle rack of oven at 200 degree centigrade for 35 to 40 minutes.
Take the trays out n let the bread cool down a bit.
You can eat it as it is or make sandwiches or you can serve it with any dip/ chutney/ salsa.
Enjoy!!