Focaccia Barese with Tomatoes and Olives

What makes it unforgettable is super soft chewy dough, delicious crispy crust all topped with incredible charred tomatoes, black olives and oregano.

Traditionally it is made in round blue carbon steel pans and baked in a wood fired oven. But you can also easily make it at home.

If you want to get the results as close to authentic Focaccia Barese as possible this particular pan, which sometimes is called Focaccia Barese Pan, is highly recommended due to its excellent heat conduction quantities.

But you can certainly prepare it in a pizza pan (without holes) or on a regular baking sheet.

Prepare the starter

• Mix all flours together. From the total amount take ⅓ cup (50 grams).
• Add about ¼ cup taken from the total amount of water.
• Add yeast. Mix until there’s no dry flour left.
• Let sit for 1 hour.  As a result the starter will become bubbly and will double in size (see photo).
  NOTE: If this didn’t happen means the yeast went bad and cannot be used.

Prepare the dough

• In a large bowl add remaining flour, remaining water, starter, peeled potato passed through potato ricer or grated, extra virgin olive oil and salt.
• Mix all the ingredients with a spatula then knead for 5-6 minutes using your hands. Add a little bit more flour if the dough is too sticky (this depends on the potatoes and particular type of flour you used). 
• This step can be done using your stand mixer where you should knead the dough for no more than 4 minutes on low speed switching it to medium a few times.
• As a result you should get very soft dough that with an extra dust of flour comes together in a soft ball.
• Place the dough in a bowl, make a cross cut with a knife and let rise in warm place (like turned off oven) for 1 hour to 90 minutes or until double in size.

Arrange Focaccia in a pan

• Generously oil focaccia pan using your hands. With still oily hands take the dough out of the bowl and place it in focaccia pan. Using your well-oiled fingertips spread the dough in even layer all over the pan.
• Cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let rest for 10-30 minutes.

The result: the dough should rise but just a little bit to deep the condiment in.

Time greatly depends on the temperature. It’ll take just 10-15 minutes in the summer and might take up to 30 minutes in the cold season when room temperature generally tends to be lower.

Season and Bake

• Cut cherry tomatoes in half.
• Using your hands squeeze each cherry tomato half over focaccia letting all the juice flow on the dough. Deep cherry tomato half in the dough.
• In the remaining “blank” spot insert black olives.
• Generously sprinkle with dry oregano and give a few rounds of extra virgin olive oil.
• Cover again and let rise for the last time. Depending on the ambient temperature it’ll take 15-30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 465F (240C). 
• Top focaccia with a few pinches of sea salt flakes just before putting it in the oven. NOTE: If you do it earlier salt will simply melt in the dough.
• Bake focaccia on convection/fan setting of the oven for 15–20 minutes until golden crust forms and tomatoes are beautifully charred.
  NOTE: If you don't have convection/fan setting bake focaccia at 482F (250C) for 20-25 minutes.