In honour of National Bread Week I am posting Focaccia which I have been meaning to make ever since I saw Paul Hollywood making some on the Alan Tichmarsh show a couple of years ago! I was recently sent a box of goodies from Steenbergs one of which was za’atar (which is popular in Syria and Lebanon). I had never come across this before (or some of the other products) so mild panic did set in as I felt like I’d opened up a box of sheet music and been asked to play a medley when I’m note blind! Anyway after a quick look at Wikipedia, a trip to the library and a snoop in a book shop I decided to make the first thing that had already come into my head which was Focaccia. Indeed Paul Hollywoods latest book had some kind of flat bread covered in za’atar so I felt I was barking up the right tree! My daughter loves olives so we decided that these should also be included and I based my recipe on the one featured here for National Bread Week. I have to say that we had this with my Glenda’s Winter Lentil Soup and we ate the whole loaf between the 4 us – it was a big hit and I will be making this again!
My daughter has now become a za’atar fan and comes in from school asking for some pitta, houmous (or olive oil) and za’atar. The Steenbergs version contains thyme, oregano, marjoram and parsley together with sumac, toasted sesame seeds and salt.
I used my small Mermaid baking sheet which was just the right size for making Focaccia and because it’s made of hard anodised aluminium there is no bending or warping in the oven which you get with cheaper quality baking sheets. The heat distribution is also second to none!
I am entering my Focaccia into Javelin Warriors Cookin w Luv “Made with Love Monday” challenge as it is made from scratch, plus Karen’s Herbs on Saturday challenge as it uses Za’atar.
Here’s a pictorial step-by-step guide:
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- Leave the warm water and yeast to froth up.
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- Stir the ingredients until a dough is formed.
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- Knead well.
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- Cover the dough and leave to rise.
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- The risen dough.
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- Knead the olives into the dough.
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- Place the dough on a baking sheet.
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- Paint on the olive oil.
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- Sprinkle on the Za’atar and sea salt.
Serve with some olive oil for dipping!
- 15g / ½ oz Dried active yeast
- 180ml / 6fl oz Warm water
- 350g / 12 oz Strong plain flour
- 1 tsp Table salt
- 50g Black olives, pitted and quartered
- 1 tbsp Za’atar
- 2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 pinches Coarse sea salt
- Put just 120ml/4fl oz of warm water in a small bowl and stir in the yeast, leave for 10 minutes to go frothy.
- Sieve the flour and salt into a large bowl and stir in the yeast mixture and the rest of the water with a wooden spoon, you might need a little more water!
- Use your hands to bring the dough together and transfer to a floured surface, knead for a few minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Put the dough in a well oiled bowl covered with cling film, and set aside in a warm place (airing cupboards are good) to prove for about 1 ½ hours until doubled in size.
- Meanwhile lightly oil a baking sheet and 10 minutes before proving has ended preheat the oven to 220°C.
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface, punch down then sprinkle in the chopped olives and knead for a few minutes.(You might need to add in 2 batches).
- Place the dough on the oiled baking sheet, pulling it into a rectangle about 1.5cm/3/4” deep.
- Make dimples in the dough using your fingers or knuckles then brush the olive oil over the surface and sprinkle on the Za’atar and course sea salt.
- Bake for about 15 - 20 minutes or until golden. Serve warm or at room temperature with more olive oil for dipping.
46 comments
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Ursula Hunt
28/08/2015 at 10:18 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I love focaccia when we are have an italian meal
Jacqueline Roberts
08/07/2015 at 5:33 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Looks great might have a go
Jane Davies
18/04/2015 at 11:22 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Not keen on olives on their own either but don’t mind them chopped up and added to things so will probably give this one a go 🙂
Camilla
18/04/2015 at 8:14 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
They are devisive aren’t they, I only got into them quite late in life but my kids love them:-)
Gwen Maynard
18/04/2015 at 1:04 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Sounds yummy. Will be having a go at this soon.
Camilla
18/04/2015 at 8:17 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Great, let me know how you get on:-)
William Gould
29/01/2015 at 7:29 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I do like Focaccia but I’m not a huge fan of olives though…
Camilla
29/01/2015 at 10:44 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
You don’t like Olives, we all love them here, I suppose they’re an acquired taste. Remember my first as a kid and wasn’t keen!
Anne Dalzell
14/11/2014 at 10:02 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Never heard of za’ataar before either. Love how easy foccacia bread is to make yet it always looks so impressive when it comes out of the oven.
Camilla
15/11/2014 at 12:06 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I hadn’t either until I was sent some. Drizzle it over houmous on a pitta and daughter really taken to it too:-)
Maddy
11/09/2014 at 12:16 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Could you do the first part in the dough-making cycle of a bread maker?
Camilla
11/09/2014 at 6:33 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I ditched my bread maker as it totally took the fun out of bread making so I couldn’t say I’m afraid. Maybe your manual has a similar recipe and you could adapt it.
Fiver Feeds
07/09/2014 at 11:28 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I made this several days ago and just had to say it was delicious! Thanks for sharing recipe with us!
Camilla
08/09/2014 at 1:31 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Aaw thanks so much for letting me know:-)
Tracy Nixon
04/07/2014 at 5:32 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
This looks delicious for a picnic!
Ursula Hunt
01/07/2014 at 7:58 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Great with good quality olive oil
Tracy Nixon
19/02/2014 at 5:14 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
shared on Twitter thanks!
Maya Russell
10/01/2014 at 9:33 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I don’t like olives whole, or on their own, but love them chopped up on pizza or on bread. This bread looks really nice. I’m not sure if I have eaten Focaccia before. I had never heard of Za’atar before now.
Ursula Hunt
06/01/2014 at 1:17 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I love Foccacia and would like to try this one
Camilla
06/01/2014 at 2:17 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Thanks, it is delicious:-)
Paul Wilson
05/01/2014 at 12:42 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
That looks a very nice Focaccia.
Camilla
05/01/2014 at 11:43 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Thanks, must make it again soon:-)
Heather Haigh
12/09/2013 at 7:39 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Sounds delicious.
Jessica Cocks
09/09/2013 at 12:34 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Sounds incredible and perfect with anything! Risotto, pasta, soup… the list is endless! Love focaccia!
stacycmcbryde
20/05/2013 at 3:31 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
This has got to be one of my favourite breads – I love it ! delicious x
Camilla
20/05/2013 at 6:44 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I agree it is yummy but I think I just love all fresh bread:-)
Lucy Zelazowski
08/05/2013 at 7:07 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Looks delicious 😀 Yummy 😀
Camilla
08/05/2013 at 7:08 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Thank you and for taking the trouble to comment:-)
Karen
30/04/2013 at 9:20 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Stunning entry thanks, and thanks for being such a wonderful supporter of Herbs on Saturday! Karen xxxx
Camilla
30/04/2013 at 11:00 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Thanks Karen:-)
Caroline Taylor
25/04/2013 at 1:27 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
This is such a great way to use the za’ atar. I love the sound of this focaccia and it’s been too long since I last made bread so I want to give this a go!
Camilla
25/04/2013 at 2:06 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Aah, thank you, that’s so nice to hear, do let me know how you get on:-)
Jacqueline
24/04/2013 at 3:11 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
It looks great Camilla. There is nothing as joyful as homemade bread. I am actually watching Paul Hollywood Bread as I type this. He’s making brioche just now.
Camilla
24/04/2013 at 5:40 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Thanks Jacs, yes there’s something very therapeutic and magical about making bread isn’t there:-)
Jacqueline @How to be a Gourmand
22/04/2013 at 6:27 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
A great way to use za’atar Camilla. This bread making is really popular in your household! You’ve turned out some lovely pieces!
Camilla
22/04/2013 at 9:03 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Ha ha thanks Jacqueline, I’m laughing because I’ve only really become a bread maker in the last 6 months. I remember my teacher writing in my report that she wouldn’t want to be one of my children the way I kneaded my bread. I used to have a bread maker but it was just so cumbersome to store and every loaf was similar and no fun to make. I think it’s a mental block we get that bread is difficult, time consuming and messy. Now I’ve discovered you can bring the dough together with a wooden spoon and don’t have to get your hands covered in gloop I don’t even bother to get my Kenwood out any more.
Victoria Lee
21/04/2013 at 2:33 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I sooo need to pull my finger out an make my first focaccia loaf… it’s been languishing mid way down my ‘to-bake’ list for ages, but keeps getting leapfrogged by new ideas….
Camilla
21/04/2013 at 3:08 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I know how you feel, that to do list never seems to shrink, so many things to make:-)
Cheryl Pasquier
20/04/2013 at 10:16 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I have some Za’atar and had no idea what to do with it so this is definitely one to try 🙂
Camilla
20/04/2013 at 11:01 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Fab, do let me know if you do:-)
Vanesther
19/04/2013 at 10:02 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I made some dukkah recently which is kind of similar to za’atar and was wondering how it might taste as a focaccia topping. You’ve just inspired me to give it a go. Yours looks truly gorgeous!
Camilla
19/04/2013 at 10:15 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Aah, thank you so much Vanesther, glad to inspire:-)
Jen @ BlueKitchenBakes
19/04/2013 at 7:04 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I’ve made a couple of focaccias but have stuck to the fairly typical Meditteranean flavourings of garlic and rosemary. I still haven’t tried Za’atar yet, and it has just moved up a few places on my list of things to eat after seeing this beautiful loaf 🙂
Camilla
19/04/2013 at 8:31 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Well I’ve been able to cross off Focaccia and Za’atar in one fell swoop LOL! Daughter is so keen its funny:-)
Javelin Warrior
19/04/2013 at 5:32 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
I’m a big fan of focaccia and shockingly, I’ve never tried to make it. But this looks and sounds delicious! I love the use of the black olives and it’s such a simple things to make I really should give it a go… Thanks so much for sharing!
Camilla
19/04/2013 at 5:38 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Well you’re like me then Mark as this was my first time and yes it’s so very easy – give it go soon, the topping possibilities are endless:-)
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