su-Zucchini, Red Onion, and Ricotta Focaccia Image

Photo: Coral Von Zumwalt

Yields Serves 12 Active Time 1 hr 30 mins Total Time 6 hrs 30 mins Total Time 8 hrs
AuthorKaren Hatfield

A tiny amount of yeast and multiple rises create the fine texture in Karen Hatfield's crusty, olive oil-rich focaccia. It's a bit time-consuming, but easy to pull off--start it a day ahead or the morning of the party.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

Make dough: In bowl of a stand mixer, blend 4 cups flour and the yeast on low speed. Blend in 1 1/2 cups very warm water (120° to 130°) just until dough is evenly moistened, 1 to 2 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place (about 85°) until dough rises slightly and a few bubbles form, 2 hours.

Step 2
2

Add salt and 6 tbsp. oil. Using dough hook, mix on low speed until oil is blended in, 3 minutes. Mix on medium speed until no oil is visible, 2 to 5 minutes.

Step 3
3

Sprinkle a work surface with flour, put dough on top, and sprinkle with flour. Stretch dough so it's about twice as big, then fold it over onto itself. Give dough a quarter turn. Repeat stretching, folding, and turning three more times. Shape dough into a ball and return, seam down, to bowl. Cover; let rise in a warm place until dough is half again as big, 1 hour.

Step 4
4

Stretch, fold, and turn dough four more times; let rise, covered, in a warm place until doubled in volume, 1 more hour.

Step 5
5

Pour 3 tbsp. oil into a 12-in. ovenproof frying pan. Gently stretch and fold dough once or twice, form a loose ball, and place seam down in pan. Drizzle with 1 tbsp. oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until dough can be easily stretched to edge of pan, 45 to 60 minutes.

Step 6
6

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425° and make toppings: Cook chiles in 1 tbsp. oil in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat until sizzling, 1 minute; set pan aside to cool. Add onion, zucchini, and 1/8 tsp. each salt and pepper to chiles and oil; toss. Firmly push fingers down into risen dough all over to deeply dimple surface and fill pan. Evenly space 1-tbsp. spoonfuls of ricotta on dough and push down into dough. Arrange vegetables over dough. Sprinkle with oil from pan, rosemary, and remaining 1/8 tsp. each salt and pepper.

Step 7
7

Bake focaccia until deep golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes. Drizzle with remaining 1 tbsp. oil. Let cool at least 20 minutes, then cut into wedges.

Step 8
8

Make ahead: Through step 3, up to 1 day; punch air from risen dough, then chill. Next day, stretch and fold cold dough once, return to bowl, and let stand 2 hours at room temperature before continuing with step Or bake bread 1 day ahead and reheat, draped with foil, in a 350° oven until slightly warm.

Ingredients

  DOUGH
  About 4 cups bread flour
 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast, such as RapidRise
 1 tablespoon kosher salt
 10 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  TOPPINGS
 2 or 3 Fresno chiles or 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced crosswise
 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
 1 small zucchini, ends trimmed, cut in half crosswise and sliced lengthwise 1/4 in. thick
 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
 1/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves

Directions

Step 1
1

Make dough: In bowl of a stand mixer, blend 4 cups flour and the yeast on low speed. Blend in 1 1/2 cups very warm water (120° to 130°) just until dough is evenly moistened, 1 to 2 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place (about 85°) until dough rises slightly and a few bubbles form, 2 hours.

Step 2
2

Add salt and 6 tbsp. oil. Using dough hook, mix on low speed until oil is blended in, 3 minutes. Mix on medium speed until no oil is visible, 2 to 5 minutes.

Step 3
3

Sprinkle a work surface with flour, put dough on top, and sprinkle with flour. Stretch dough so it's about twice as big, then fold it over onto itself. Give dough a quarter turn. Repeat stretching, folding, and turning three more times. Shape dough into a ball and return, seam down, to bowl. Cover; let rise in a warm place until dough is half again as big, 1 hour.

Step 4
4

Stretch, fold, and turn dough four more times; let rise, covered, in a warm place until doubled in volume, 1 more hour.

Step 5
5

Pour 3 tbsp. oil into a 12-in. ovenproof frying pan. Gently stretch and fold dough once or twice, form a loose ball, and place seam down in pan. Drizzle with 1 tbsp. oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until dough can be easily stretched to edge of pan, 45 to 60 minutes.

Step 6
6

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425° and make toppings: Cook chiles in 1 tbsp. oil in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat until sizzling, 1 minute; set pan aside to cool. Add onion, zucchini, and 1/8 tsp. each salt and pepper to chiles and oil; toss. Firmly push fingers down into risen dough all over to deeply dimple surface and fill pan. Evenly space 1-tbsp. spoonfuls of ricotta on dough and push down into dough. Arrange vegetables over dough. Sprinkle with oil from pan, rosemary, and remaining 1/8 tsp. each salt and pepper.

Step 7
7

Bake focaccia until deep golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes. Drizzle with remaining 1 tbsp. oil. Let cool at least 20 minutes, then cut into wedges.

Step 8
8

Make ahead: Through step 3, up to 1 day; punch air from risen dough, then chill. Next day, stretch and fold cold dough once, return to bowl, and let stand 2 hours at room temperature before continuing with step Or bake bread 1 day ahead and reheat, draped with foil, in a 350° oven until slightly warm.

Zucchini, Red Onion, and Ricotta Focaccia

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