Let's Dish With Linda Lou

I wanted to make Homemade Focaccia With Rosemary And Garlic and then use the focaccia to make each of us a Panini/Panino. I bought a new Panini maker thinking, what better way to break it in then on Superbowl Sunday.

This post is specifically on how to make Homemade Focaccia With Rosemary And Garlic. In case you’d like to check out my panini recipe, I’ve posted a link at the bottom of this page for my version of The Perfect Panini.

I like to trim the edges of the Focaccia to give the Paninis a uniformed look.

Yields: 12 servings
Active Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Equipment: Stand Mixer with the dough hook attachment, 2 large mixing bowls, 2 rimmed 1/4 sheet pans

Ingredients:
1 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast (equivalent to about 2 1/4 teaspoons per packet)
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1 tablespoon
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
1 tablespoon *E.V.O.O., plus more for brushing the top
Non-stick cooking spray

Topping:
1 tablespoon *E.V.O.O.
1/4 cup fresh chopped rosemary leaves
2 large garlic cloves, peeled and whole
Flaky sea salt

Directions:
For the dough, fill a small bowl with hot tap water. Let the water sit in the bowl for a couple of minutes to warm the bowl, then dump the water out. In the warmed bowl, combine the yeast, sugar, 1 tablespoon of the flour, and 1/4 cup of warm water (115-degrees F.) Let stand for 5 minutes. The mixture will be creamy and slightly bubbly.
Note: If the yeast does not have those characteristics, throw it away and start over with new yeast.

Using the bowl of your Stand Mixer (fitted with dough hook), mix together the Kosher salt and remaining 2 1/2 cups of flour. Make a well in the center of the flour and stir in the yeast mixture, olive oil, and 3/4 cup of warm water (115-degrees F.) with a wooden spoon. Mix until the dough starts to come away from the sides of the bowl (dough will be sticky). Note: If the dough looks dry, add an additional 2 tablespoons of water.

With a Stand Mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Place the (Stand Mixer) bowl onto the mixer, mix on medium speed until soft and elastic, 5-7 minutes.

Brush another large mixing bowl with olive oil. Add the dough and roll into a ball coating with the olive oil. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Stretch the dough into the prepared rimmed baking sheet pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise again for another 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425-degrees F.
Spray the rimmed baking sheet pan with the non-stick cooking spray.

Once the dough has risen, use your fingertips to dimple the dough. Brush the top with oil, top with the freshly chopped rosemary and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.

Bake until golden brown, around 25 minutes. Remove from the sheet pan. Take the whole peeled garlic clove and rub the garlic all over the top of the HOT Focaccia.

Allow the Focaccia to cool slightly before slicing. Finish with a drizzle of *E.V.O.O. and flaky sea salt.

*E.V.O.O. is Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The Perfect Panini