Focaccia Bread Art

Step 1

Mix dry ingredients (except yeast)

Step 2

In a separate bowl, mix warm water, olive oil, yeast, and about a cup of the mixed dry ingredients. Mix until combined, a little bit lumpy is OK. Set aside for the yeast to activate, become bubbly, and smell yeasty for about 30 minutes.

Step 3

Add the bubbly yeast mixture to the dry ingredients and beat in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment until thick and very sticky, about 4 minutes. Note: It won't feel like regular yeast dough. It's hard to do this by hand, as it won't mix well enough.

Step 4

Cover and move to a warm spot to let dough rest/rise, about 30 minutes.

Step 5

Preheat oven to 375

Step 6

Lightly grease a sheet pan (9x13). Add 1 TBL olive oil to the pan and coat (this helps give the bottom of the focaccia a little crunch. Sprinkle with dried herbs

Step 7

With flour on your fingers, place the dough in the middle of the sheet pan and spread the dough out to the edges of the pan. Because the dough is sticky, start the dough in the middle and press outwards.

Step 8

Dimple the top of the dough with your finger and brush with olive oil

Step 9

Let the dough rest, uncovered for 15-30 minutes. Do this before you add vegetables so that the dough doesn’t rise over your vegetable art

Step 10

While the dough is resting, prepare your vegetables to create your focaccia art

Step 11

Here are some ideas for vegetable art (pictures)