Focaccio (Italian bread) with olives and tomatoes

Believe it or not, but I am half Italian and I never tried to make Focaccio, so this post is based on my first attempt. I have to admit, I love the taste of olive oil in bread. It is not greasy but it makes the bread taste a bit more moist and as soon as you bring it closer to your mouth, just before tasting, you can smell the olive oil, although the quantity used in the dough is just a few tablespoons, it smells Mediterranean, fresh and summery.

For those who do not know it, according to Wikipedia, Focaccio is a flat oven-baked Italian bread, which may be topped with herbs or other ingredients. It is related to pizza, but not considered to be the same. It is usually seasoned with olive oil and salt. It tastes like bread but the outside is a bit more crusty due to the olive oil.

You could just eat it like this but it is even nice with a simple salad on the side for lunch.

As I have prepared this for the first time I would suggest to remove it from the oven maybe just before you reach 30 mins, I left it according the recipe I have found, which indicated 40 mins, but I find it a bit too colourful for a proper focaccio. 

Focaccio with olives and tomatoes
Ingredients: 

450gr plain flour

8gr dried yeast (or 12,5gr fresh yeast)

1/4 tsp sugar
2tsp salt
300ml warm water

4tbsp olive oil


Toppings:
dried oregano
coarse salt
some green olives
some cherry tomatoes, halved 

1. from the quantity of warm water take 1/2 glass and use to dissolve the dried yeast, together with the sugar

2. in another bowl mix the flour and salt and make a well in the middle where you will pour the water, olive oil and the dissolved yeast and knead all together during 10 min

3. let the dough rest for an 1hr

4. knead the dough again and place it on a baking tray covered in a bit of olive oil and let it rest for another 30min
5. preheat the oven to 220 degrees

6. add the toppings on the dough before placing it in the oven

7. bake the focaccio during 30 to 35 min, once done let it cool down before serving

Enjoy!