Caramelized Onion Focaccia (with Rosemary)
A simple to make homemade focaccia recipe that is vegan. The caramelized onion and rosemary topping make this bread beyond delicious. The bread is so delicious you could eat it as a meal with your favorite salad. Bake the bread on a 11" x 17" jellyroll pan or a cookie sheet.
Servings: 1 large focaccia
Calories: 2491kcal
Ingredients
dough
- 1 ⅓ cups warm tap water about 110 degrees
- 2 ½ teaspoons 1 envelope active dry yeast
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 ¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons sea salt
topping
- 3-4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- caramelized onion
- 1-3 teaspoons sea salt or kosher salt
- to caramelize onion
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 large onion peeled and sliced thin
- 1 Tbsp rosemary chopped fine (not the stems)
Instructions
Dough
- In a small bowl, add the water and sprinkle the yeast on top of the water. Add 3 tablespoons of the oil and whisk together. Set aside.
- In large mixing bowl, add the flour and 3 teaspoons of salt; whisk together or mix together on low speed in your mixer.
- Add the yeast mixture and about half of the flour mixture. Stir with a rubber spatula until it is combined. Attach the dough hook to your mixer and add the remaining flour. Mix on low speed for about three minutes. If the dough seems to be too dry, add warm water a teaspoon at a time until you obtain a softer dough.
- Form the dough into a ball and place into an oiled bowl (when I put the dough in the bowl I swish the dough around the bottom of the bowl and then flip it over so all of the dough is covered in a light film of oil). Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise at room temperature until doubled in size (about 1-1 ½ hours).
- While the dough is rising, caramelize the onion if using it for topping.
Topping
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive- oil over medium-low heat. Add the onions to the skillet and sprinkle 1 teaspoon of sugar over it. Stir occasionally and cook until tender (takes about 10-15 minutes
- until golden).
- Place the dough on a parchment lined baking sheet. Pat and press the dough gently until the dough fills the pan completely. If the dough resists, let it rest for a few minutes before continuing (sometimes the dough can be moody). Cover the dough with a piece of plastic wrap and let it rise again until doubled in size (about 40-60 minutes).
- Set a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 425 F.
- When the dough has doubled in size, remove the plastic wrap. Dimple the surface of the risen focaccia using your fingertips.
- Brush on the remaining olive oil to the surface of the dough. Sprinkle on the sea salt (add the amount of salt you prefer. We like it a little saltier. Sprinkle on the chopped rosemary and caramelized onions.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed around the edges.
- Remove from oven. Lift the focaccia from the pan with the parchment paper edges onto a cutting board. You’re supposed to let it cool a little on a rack before serving. That never happens over here. Brush on a little olive oil (the last tablespoon from the 4 tablespoons in the ingredient list) on the hot focaccia. Cut and serve.
Notes
1. Don’t rush the rise
If your kitchen is cool, the dough may take longer than 1½ hours. That’s normal. A slow rise builds better flavor and gives you that airy focaccia texture. 2. Keep the dough slightly sticky
Resist the urge to add too much flour. A slightly sticky dough creates a softer interior and those classic airy pockets. 3. Caramelize onions low and slow
Medium-low heat is key. If they brown too quickly, they’ll taste sharp instead of sweet. You want them soft, golden, and jammy. 4. Oil generously
Focaccia isn’t shy about olive oil. A generous brush before baking gives you crisp edges and that golden top. 5. Dimple deeply
Press your fingertips firmly into the dough before baking. This helps the oil pool slightly in the indentations and gives authentic texture.
If your kitchen is cool, the dough may take longer than 1½ hours. That’s normal. A slow rise builds better flavor and gives you that airy focaccia texture. 2. Keep the dough slightly sticky
Resist the urge to add too much flour. A slightly sticky dough creates a softer interior and those classic airy pockets. 3. Caramelize onions low and slow
Medium-low heat is key. If they brown too quickly, they’ll taste sharp instead of sweet. You want them soft, golden, and jammy. 4. Oil generously
Focaccia isn’t shy about olive oil. A generous brush before baking gives you crisp edges and that golden top. 5. Dimple deeply
Press your fingertips firmly into the dough before baking. This helps the oil pool slightly in the indentations and gives authentic texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 2491kcal | Carbohydrates: 315g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 116g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 82g | Sodium: 6988mg | Potassium: 456mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 71IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 20mg