Italian bread with rosemary in the oven
Description
Delicious baked goods for the whole family. Want a taste of Italy? Then be sure to bake a very tasty and aromatic Italian rosemary bread called “Rosemary Focaccia” or “focaccia with rosemary.” It’s very easy and anyone can make it—follow the step-by-step recipe and bake with enjoyment. Serve warm or chilled. Perfect with tea.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Prepare the ingredients.
- 2
Step 2
Sift the flour into a dough‑mixing bowl, add the yeast, and stir to combine.
- 3
Step 3
Make a well in the flour, pour in warm water and 80 grams of olive oil. You do not need to add salt.
- 4
Step 4
Mix the flour with water and oil, then transfer the mixture onto the tabletop work surface.
- 5
Step 5
Knead the dough by hand for at least 10 minutes. The dough should become smooth, elastic, and not stick to your hands. Shape the dough into a ball.
- 6
Step 6
Grease a bowl with olive oil, place the dough in it, cover with a lid, and leave to ferment for 1 hour.
- 7
Step 7
After an hour, take out the dough, punch it down, and knead it for about two minutes.
- 8
Step 8
Roll out the dough into a sheet 1 cm thick, transfer to a baking sheet greased with vegetable oil or onto a sheet of baking paper. Cover with foil or plastic wrap for 30 minutes.
- 9
Step 9
While the dough rises, prepare the mixture for brushing the bread after baking. Grate 1–2 cloves of garlic and add 2–3 tablespoons of olive oil.
- 10
Step 10
With fingers dampened in water, make indentations, generously brush the bread with olive oil (without garlic), and sprinkle with coarse sea salt and rosemary. If you have fresh rosemary, you can stick several rosemary sprigs into the indentations. Spray the bread with cold water from a spray bottle; this helps form a “proper” crust.
- 11
Step 11
Bake the bread for 25–30 minutes at 220°C using top-and-bottom heating, without convection. Brush the baked bread with the prepared olive oil mixed with garlic.
- 12
Step 12
It is impossible to put into words the aroma that filled the apartment while this magnificent focaccia was baking.
- 13
Step 13
Properly baked bread should be fluffy. You can eat it just as it is, with nothing added—almost like cake—because it’s incredibly delicious. And if you have any garlic butter left over, dip pieces of bread in it. You’ll get a real taste of Italy!