Focaccia With Herby Calabrian Chili Oil
Ingredients
Dough
4 cups (512 g) flour
2 cups of water
2 tablespoons of salt
½ cup + an additional ¼ cup of quality oil
A packet of active yeast
Chili oil:
1 teaspoon of calabrian chili paste
1 grated clove of garlic
A couple sprigs of chopped rosemary
¼ cup of parsley
1 ½ cup of olive oil
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine flour and salt.
In a separate bowl, mix active yeast with room temperature water until dissolved.
Pour the yeast mixture into the flour bowl and mix until a sticky dough forms.
Drizzle 1/4 cup olive oil over the dough, cover, and let it rise for 1 hour.
After the first rise, stretch and fold the dough. You can repeat this process for up to 24 hours if desired, enhancing the flavor.
Transfer the dough to a baking pan, spreading it out to fill the pan evenly.
Use your fingertips to create dimples across the dough surface.
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Bake the focaccia for 20-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
In a bowl, combine chopped rosemary, Calabrian chili paste, and grated garlic.
Heat olive oil until warm, then pour over the herb mixture.
Let the oil cool slightly before adding chopped parsley.
Throughout the baking process, baste the focaccia with the chili oil using a pastry brush for added flavor.
