Prep Information
Prep Time
135 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Serves
8-12 people
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves roughly chopped
- Fresh ground black pepper
- Sea salt to taste.
- 1 package (2-1/4 teaspoons) active dried yeast
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 medium shallots thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup + 1/3 cup + more for dizzling: Empeltre EVOO or similar, intensely flavored olive oil
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 5 cups all purpose, unbleached flour
- 2 cups lukewarm water, filtered if possible
- 1 cup cooled, unseasoned, mashed russet potatoes
Instructions
- If making the dough in a bread machine, follow instructions for the order of adding ingredients.
- In a bowl of a stand mixer, combine the water, sugar and yeast. Allow the yeast to bloom for about 5 minutes. Add 1/3 cup of olive oil, mashed potatoes and sea salt. Mix to combine.
- With the mixer running on the lowest speed, begin to add the flour, cup by cup, until the dough has come together and becomes elastic and just slightly tacky. Reserve any leftover flour for rolling the dough out.
- Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rise in a warm place for one hour.
- On a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment, gently push the dough to the edges, using fingertips to stretch it and make dimpled indentations. Cover and allow the dough to rise for another hour in a warm place.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Distribute the thinly sliced shallots and rosemary evenly over the focaccia. Drizzle with remaining 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil, a sprinkle of fresh ground pepper, and a sprinkle of sea salt.
- Bake for approximately 35-40 minutes until golden brown. While still hot out of the oven, drizzle with more extra virgin olive oil to taste. Serve warm.