Focaccia Table Centerpiece
Part bread, part cheese board, this focaccia is made for sharing. Top it with imported Asiago, Gorgonzola, Pecorino Romano, and Taleggio, then add fruit, pickled vegetables, honeycomb, and jam for a centerpiece everyone can dig into.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups lukewarm water 110°F-115°F
- 1 1/4 teaspoons sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil divided
- 1 8-ounce wedge imported Asiago, sliced
- 1 8-ounce wedge imported Gorgonzola
- 1 8-ounce wedge imported Pecorino Romano, sliced or broken into chunks
- 1 8-ounce wedge imported Taleggia, sliced
- Green seedless grapes for garnish
- Giardiniera for garnish
- Honeycomb for garnish
- Sundried tomatoes for garnish
- Navel oranges sliced into wedges, for garnish
- Apricot jam for garnish
- Strawberry jam for garnish
Instructions
- Whisk water, yeast and sugar in a large bowl. Let stand until the yeast is foamy, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add fl our and salt, and mix together with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until a shaggy dough forms. Cover bowl with a damp tea towel or plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight for at least 8-12 hours, until dough is tripled in size.
- Coat a 13x18-inch nonstick baking pan with 2 1/2 tablespoons of oil. Transfer dough to prepared baking pan. Cover with a damp tea towel or plastic wrap. Allow to rest for 1 hour, until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 425°F for at least 30 minutes. Drizzle with remaining olive oil. Dimple dough all over with your fi ngers. Spray bottoms of two 4-inch diameter oven-safe ramekins and two 3-inch diameter oven-safe ramekins with cooking spray. Gently press each ramekin into dough, leaving at least 1- to 2-inches between each ramekin.
- Bake for 25 minutes, until focaccia is light golden-brown. Carefully remove all ramekins with tongs or oven mitts. Allow to cool at room temperature for at least 10-15 minutes.
- Fill holes of focaccia with sliced Asiago and Pecorino, grapes and pickled vegetables. Top remaining surface of focaccia with remaining ingredients, as desired. Serve and enjoy.
