Step 1

In a large bowl mix flour and yeast.

Step 2

Stir hot water, salt, and sugar together in a glass measuring cup until salt and sugar dissolve. Add 1/2 cup olive oil to hot water mixture and pour everything into the bowl with the flour and yeast.

Step 3

Mix everything together with your hands until all dried bits of flour are incorporated into one dough ball.

Step 4

Lightly sprinkle countertop with flour. Knead dough 40 times, adding more flour if necessary. Grease bowl with 1 teaspoon olive oil, place dough ball into bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for one hour.

Step 5

Preheat oven to 425ºF.

Step 6

When one hour is up, pour half of remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil onto a baking sheet. Punch down dough ball and place on sheet, moving around to grease underside with olive oil. Drizzle top of dough with remaining oil and spread out gently with hands to a thickness of 1-inch.

Step 7

Press on dough hard enough with your fingers to leave imprints all over. Add focaccia toppings, and bake 23-25 minutes, or until golden.