Franco’s Focaccia di Recco

Preheat oven to 500°F

Ingredients:

• 3/4 – lb. – Crescenza – Stracchino cheese (can substitute with Taleggio or Robiola. If using these cheeses, remove the soft rind.)
• 1/2  lb.- all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 5/8  cup – water (cold)
• 1/2  teaspoon – salt
• 9 or 10 inch round baking tray

Procedure:

• Combine the flour and the salt in the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment.

• Add half the cold water along with 1/8 cup of the extra virgin olive oil.  Start mixing at medium speed.  Add the rest of the water, little by little until the dough has come together.

• Once the dough forms a ball, knead by hand for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until smooth and uniform (not sticky).

• When the dough is ready, cover it with plastic wrap and let it rest for an hour at room temperature or in the refrigerator overnight.

To Shape:

• Divide the dough into two equal parts.

• Start with one ball and work on a lightly floured work surface and roll it out. The object is to keep it around and as thin as possible, almost transparent. If you feel comfortable, you may toss it in the air like a pizza to expedite this process.  If you get a few tears, just seal them up.  This is a very forgiving dough!

Focaccia di Recco – cheese step

Lightly grease the bottom of the baking tray with olive oil and place one layer of stretched dough onto it.

Add the Cresenza-Stracchino cheese, or any of the other cheeses, in pieces.

Don’t be stingy with the cheese what helps to make this focaccia so very special.

Focaccia di Recco – sealed & oiled

Roll out the second ball of dough as you did the first and cover the cheese with the second sheet of dough.

Use a knife to remove the excess dough from around the edges of the pan.

Seal the edges by pinching the dough. Tear slight holes into the top layer of dough where the cheese is so that the steam can escape while cooking. Brush liberally with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and sprinkle with Kosher salt.

To Bake:

Place the focaccia on a rack in the center of the preheated  500°F oven. Bake for 6-7 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the bottom is cooked and crisp, as well.  (check the bottom by lifting with a spatula)

Slice and serve the focaccia while still hot!

Cooking Tip: It’s great with a side salad or as is before dinner with cocktails.

• Alternatively, if you have a pizza stone you can cook the Focaccia di Recco directly on that.  It will cook faster and ensure a crispier bottom.
• To do so, create your focaccia on a well-floured pizza peel (flour and semolina).
• Follow the above instructions and slide it onto the pizza stone and cook- 5-6 minutes or until golden brown.
• This focaccia is typically made in either round or square shapes.

To see the full demonstration video for this focaccia please click here.