Black Olive Focaccia Bread

Total Time: 3 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons yeast
• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 24 kalamata olives, pitted

Recipe

• 1 pour the water into the bowl of a stand up mixer fitted with a dough hook and sprinkle in the yeast. add 1 cup of the flour and the sugar then stir to combine. let rest for ten minutes or so, until the yeast activates and bubbles appear on surface.
• 2 add the rest of the flour, salt, olive oil, pepper, thyme and olives and mix well until dough begins to form a ball. continue kneading for a few minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. place in a large, oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and rest in a warm place until the dough doubles, about 1 hour.
• 3 lightly oil your hands then knock down the dough, pressing the air out of it. knead a few times and then place dough onto an oiled baking sheet. pull and press dough across pan until if forms a large, flattened circle and vigorously poke dimples into it with your fingertips. drizzle with olive oil, coarse salt and pepper and let rise a second time until it doubles again, about 30 minutes.
• 4 while you wait preheat your oven to 450 degrees. place in oven and bake until it has formed a golden crust, but is still soft in the centre, about 40 minutes.