This delicious crispy and fluffy focaccia is studded with sweet roasted wild grapes, roasted garlic and rosemary.
October is wild grape time on Nantucket. The island is covered in crawling vines of dark purple and red wild fox grapes, which are similar to concord grapes. While jelly may be the obvious choice to use up this bountiful harvest, I thought a roasted wild grape studded focaccia might be another good way to feature these beauties.
Wild fox grapes have a slightly bitter after taste which mellows out when they are roasted like this. And the sweetness and color from the skins goes perfectly with the salty, herby topping.
You can use any type of grapes here if you don’t have wild ones available in your area. And you can top this with anything really. The base dough is a keeper for fluffy focaccia, thin crust pizza, or garlic knots. Don’t be shy with the extra virgin olive oil here, it’s what makes focaccia so yummy and, let’s be honest, addicting.
In college I studied abroad in Siracusa, Sicilia and lived right around the corner from a panificio that made the most amazing focaccia with the perfect salty, oily (in a good way), herbaceous crust. I literally lived off that stuff for 4 months and have had zero regrets. They also made the best sesame semolina cookies. Oh gosh don’t me started. I want to go back there so badly!!!
For now this will have to suffice…
xx Kaity
recipe after the jump…
More Delicious Bread Recipes
- Homemade Artisan Sourdough Bread Recipe
- Homemade Sourdough Bagels Recipe
- Sourdough Brioche Easter Bunny Buns
- Artichoke Olive and Spinach Stuffed Sourdough Star Bread
- Sourdough Naan Recipe
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Roasted Wild Grape Focaccia Recipe
Ingredients
Focaccia Dough
- 1 packet active dry yeast 1/4 oz, 7g
- 315 g bread flour 2-1/4 cups, and up to 350g/2-1/2 cups
- 240 g warm water 1 cup
- 5 g kosher salt 1 teaspoon
- 15 g extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon
Topping
- 1 cup grapes wild or store bought
- 3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 bulb garlic roasted
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary torn into pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Stir together yeast, 2 tablespoons of flour and 1 cup of water in a small bowl or liquid measuring cup. Let it sit for a few minutes until it starts to bubble and become foamy. If it does not, then discard mixture and start again with new yeast.
- In a mixing bowl add 3 cups of flour, salt, oil, yeast mixture and remaining water and sir until combined. Stir in an additional 1 cup of flour until dough comes together into a ball. Dough should be soft and wet but not too sticky. Sprinkle more flour as you knead dough if it is too wet. Knead for 10 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic (Note: You can mix and knead in a stand mixer with a dough hook).
- Form dough into a ball and place in an oiled bowl. Cover bowl with a cloth or wrap and let it rise in a warm spot until it doubles in volume, about 1-1.5 hours.
- Once dough has risen, preheat oven to 475˚F. Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of olive oil into 8" or 9" cast iron skillet.
- Turn the dough out into the oiled skillet. Gently press into it and stretch it out to fill the shape of the skillet. Drizzle more oil, about 1-2 tablespoons, over the top of the dough and cover it loosely with plastic wrap. Let the dough proof for about 30 minutes in a warm spot. It should be airy and puffy.
- Use your fingertips to press down and create dimples in the dough. Brush with olive oil and press in grapes, garlic and rosemary into dough. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Bake at 475˚F for 5 minutes. Then reduce oven temperature to 425˚F and bake for another 10-15 minutes. Top should be dark golden brown and bread should sound hollow when tapped. The internal temperature should reach 200-210˚F.
- Run knife along the sides of the skillet to loosen focaccia and use a spatula to remove focaccia from pan. Cool focaccia on a cooling rack. If top looks dry, brush on a little more olive oil. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Notes
- Focaccia will keep covered at room temperature for 2-3 days. Slice and freeze it in freezer bags for longer storage – up to 3 months.
- I like to let yeasted dough rise in my oven (turned off) with the light on. The light gives off just enough heat. If it is a really cold day you can preheat the oven to its lowest temp and turn it off before placing dough in there, and leave door cracked to help the dough rise faster.
Kaity Farrell
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