Samin Nosrat’s Ligurian Focaccia

Samin Nosrat’s Ligurian Focaccia

Ingredients

  • lukewarm water
    2 ½ c
  • active dry yeast
    ½ tsp
  • honey
    2 ½ tsp
  • all-purpose flour
    5 ⅓ c
  • diamond crystal kosher salt

    or 1 tablespoon fine sea salt

    2 tbsp
  • extra-virgin olive oil

    plus more for the pan and finishing

    ¼ c
  • flaky salt

    for finishing

  • diamond crystal kosher salt
    1 ½ tsp
  • lukewarm water
    ⅓ c

Directions

  1. 1

    In a medium bowl, stir together water, yeast, and honey to dissolve. In a very large bowl, whisk flour and salt together to combine and then add yeast mixture and olive oil. Stir with a rubber spatula until just incorporated, then scrape the sides of the bowl clean and cover with plastic wrap. Leave out at room temperature to ferment for 12 to 14 hours until at least doubled in volume.

  2. 2

    Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons oil evenly onto a 18-by-13 inch rimmed baking sheet. When dough is ready, use a spatula or your hand to release it from the sides of the bowl and fold it onto itself gently, then pour out onto pan. Pour an additional 2 tablespoons of olive oil over dough and gently spread across. Gently stretch the dough to the edge of the sheet by placing your hands underneath and pulling outward.  The dough will shrink a bit, so repeat stretching once or twice over the course of 30 minutes to ensure dough remains stretched.

  3. 3

    Dimple the dough by pressing the pads of your first three fingers in at an angle.  Make the brine by stirring together salt and water until salt is dissolved. Pour the brine over the dough to fill dimples. Set the focaccia aside to rise for 45 minutes until the dough is light and bubbly.

  4. 4

    Thirty minutes into this final proof, adjust rack to center position and a second rack to the upper position. Preheat oven to 450°F. If you have a baking stone, place it on the center rack. Otherwise, invert another sturdy baking sheet and place on that rack. Allow to preheat with the oven until very hot, before proceeding with baking.

  5. 5

    Sprinkle focaccia with flaky salt. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes directly on top of stone or inverted baking sheet until bottom crust is crisp and golden brown when checked with a metal spatula. To finish browning top crust, move focaccia to upper rack and bake for 5 to 7 minutes more.

  6. 6

    Remove from oven and brush or douse with 2 to 3 tablespoons oil over the whole surface (don’t worry if the olive pools in pockets, it will absorb as it sits). Let cool for 5 minutes, then release focaccia from pan with metal spatula and transfer to a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe notes

  1. 1

    Storage: To store, wrap in parchment and then keep in an airtight bag or container to preserve texture. Gently toast or reheat any leftover focaccia before serving. Alternatively, wrap tightly to freeze, then defrost and reheat before serving.Reprinted reprinted with permission courtesy of Netflix's Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. Adapted from Diego Bedin with the help of Josey Baker.

Samin Nosrat’s Ligurian Focaccia

Samin Nosrat’s Ligurian Focaccia

296 cal

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Simple Sourdough Focaccia

Simple Sourdough Focaccia

Adapted from my favorite yeasted, slow-rise focaccia recipe — overnight refrigerator focaccia — this recipe replaces the yeast with a sourdough starter. UPDATE: Video guidance is here! Watch up above or click the link below in the recipe card.  What you need to make this recipe...: ...a sourdough starter. I bought mine from Breadtopia. It was easy to activate. There are no instructions on the package itself; follow the instructions on the video here. ...time. Once your starter is ready to go, this recipe requires an initial 4- 18 hour rise, followed by a second 4- to 6-hour second rise. After the initial rise (depending on the time of year and temperature of your kitchen), you can deflate the dough, and stick it in the fridge for 8 to 10 hours (maybe longer), which might help you regarding your schedule. Keep in mind, when you remove the dough from the fridge and transfer it to a pan, it will still need to rise for another 5- to 6- hours. ...water. Apparently, chlorine in water can adversely affect sourdough. Leaving water at room temperature for 24 hours will allow most of the chlorine to escape.When I am in the habit of making sourdough bread, I fill a large pitcher with water and leave it out at room temperature. I use this for my sourdough breads and starter. Truth be told, I've used water straight from the tap and have not noticed a difference. Water quantity: Depending on where you live and the time of year, you may need to cut the water back. If you live in a humid environment, for instance, I would suggest starting with 430 g water. If you are not using bread flour, you also may need to cut the water back a bit. Timing: The more I make sourdough, the more I realize so much depends on the time of year and the temperature of my kitchen. In the summer, because it is so warm, the first rise (bulk fermentation) takes between 4 - 6 hours; in the winter the first rise takes 12 - 18 hours. The key with this recipe is to make sure the first rise doesn't go too long — you want the dough to nearly double. A straight sided vessel  (as opposed to a bowl) makes gauging the first rise easier. (Note: If your dough rises above double, don't despair ... recently my dough tripled in volume during an overnight rise, and the resulting focaccia was still delicious, light, airy, etc.) A few thoughts: If you are making this focaccia in the summer (northern hemisphere), use 50 g of starter and check the dough every couple of hours. If you are making this in the winter, use 100 g of starter, and plan for a long first rise. Troubleshooting: If you have issues with your dough being too sticky, please read this post: Why is my sourdough so sticky? The 4 common mistakes. Flour choice:  I've been using King Arthur Flour's special patent flour — bought a 50-lb. bag of it at Restaurant Depot. Its protein content, 12.7%, is the same as the protein content of its bread flour. I also have used all-purpose flour (11.7%) with success, but I recommend bread flour, which seems to be more reliable for people especially those living in humid climates. If you only have ap flour on hand, you may consider reducing the water a bit — bread flour absorbs slightly more liquid than all-purpose flour.

24.4 hours

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About this Recipe

Craving the authentic taste of rustic Italian bread, perfectly crisp on the outside and wonderfully airy within? Samin Nosrat’s Ligurian Focaccia offers that quintessential experience, bringing the savory delights of Italy straight to your kitchen table.

What makes this focaccia truly shine is its dedication to simplicity and quality ingredients, hallmarks of traditional Ligurian baking. The generous use of extra-virgin olive oil is key, infusing the dough with a rich, fruity aroma, while the careful application of various salts creates layers of texture and savory depth that elevate each bite.

When you bake this focaccia, you can expect a golden-brown crust that yields to a remarkably tender, open-crumbed interior. The finishing touch of flaky salt provides a delightful crunch, contrasting beautifully with the soft, olive oil-infused dough. This bread is a testament to how humble ingredients, when treated with respect and understanding, can create something truly extraordinary.

While exceptional on its own, this Ligurian focaccia is also a versatile canvas for flavor. Consider pressing fresh rosemary sprigs, pitted Kalamata olives, or halved cherry tomatoes into the dough before baking to add an extra dimension of taste. For a subtle twist, a sprinkle of dried oregano or red pepper flakes can introduce a hint of warmth and spice.

Serve this beautiful focaccia as a standalone appetizer with a balsamic glaze, alongside a robust pasta dish, or as an elegant addition to a cheese and charcuterie board. It’s also perfect for sopping up savory sauces or simply enjoyed with a drizzle of your best olive oil.

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