Focaccia is a hot favourite currently at my place – Onion Tomato version, Sundried Tomato version and now this – with
Onion and Olives. Makes for a wonderful accompaniment to Penne Pasta Arabbiata
Style.
The entire meal was homemade, including the Arabbiata Sauce too which
made it extra special. After yesterday’s start to the combo theme under BM
Buffet with Mexican Sizzler, today is Whole wheat Cheesy Penne Pasta with Arabbiata Sauce and
Onion-Olive Focaccia topped with sea salt.
Lets get to this deliciously quick combo. If you have the bread
done, pasta prep to dinner table it would take you a max of 45 mins. So makes
for a super yummy weekend dinner too. I used whole wheat penne pasta, but you
could use other varieties too.
Prep time : 15 mins , standing time + baking time : 3 hours | Serves : 3
For Onion Olive Focaccia:
- Whole wheat bread flour – 2.5 cups
- Instant yeast – 1 ¼ tsp
- Salt – ½ tsp
- Oil – 4 tsp (divided use)
- Sugar – 1 TBSP
- Warm water – ¾ cup (or as needed)
- Italian Mixed herbs – 1 TBSP
- Crushed black pepper – 1/2 tsp
- Toppings : Black olives (pitted and sliced thin), Red onion – 1
large (sliced thin) - Sea salt – ½ tsp (or kosher salt)
How to make:
- Proof
yeast with warm water and sugar. Once done, add half the oil and salt and
whisk well, now add flour in batches. Mix and knead till you get a smooth
and elastic dough – about 12-15 mins. - Place
covered in a greased bowl till it doubles. Once it doubles, punch it down
gently. Knead for few mins, and pinch out a sizeable portion of the dough
(or the whole dough if you want a bigger bread) and roll into a rectangle
or a square (I used my silpat baking mat so rolled it like a rectangle). - Cover
and let it rise. - Towards
the end of the second rise, chop the onions and olives. Mix these with the
remaining oil , Italian mixed herbs, and make a marinade for topping. - Make
small dimples on the rolled out bread, add few drops of olive oil
into each dimple and place this onion – olive mixture + sprinkle crushed black pepper & press
them gently onto the bread. - Bake
in a preheated oven at 180 C for 25-30 mins till golden brown and slightly
crispy. - Serve
warm with any soup or pasta
the texture of the focaccia is super good!!! yumm..
Wow what a lovely crust and crumb you got there for your focaccia..very nice..
The final pic is so good Kalyani and that is one lovely combo meal…
Beautifully baked focaccia and pictures came out good.
Wow very well made focaccia.
gorgeous looking focaccia
Focaccia looks out of the world. Loving the toppings..
Its in my todo list.. Will try it out soon
This bread is on my to do list since long..wonder when will it be done…your version with onions looks great…must try it.
I once baked Focaccia bread in one of recent BM..I loved it .Yours too look delicious.
Wow. I am bookmarking it for my bread crazy girls. Love the fact u have used whole wheat.
Foccacia looks very tempting kalyani, that too with all that toppings, and that pairing sound so damn delicious!!!
Perfectly baked focaccia and the onion and olive topping sounds super.