Onion Cheese Focaccia

Elena Butuc

This was my first focaccia and certainly not the last! It's fluffy, soft, and tender, a delightful cheese-flavored bread that vanished within minutes (we had guests) and received much praise.

The pieces of cheese are perfect here as they melt and create flavorful pockets in the dough. You can use white or green onions, and for the pickiest eaters, you might even skip them altogether.

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Ingredients

Metric US

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Warm water

250 ml

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Active dry yeast

7 g

or 15g fresh bakers yeast

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Honey

2 tsp

or sugar

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Salt

1 tsp

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White flour

400 g

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Olive oil

3 tbsp

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Yellow cheese

100 g

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White onion

1 piece

or 3-4 green onions

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Herbes de Provence

1 tsp

+ you can add dried tomatoes, olives

Step by step

Step 1

In a bowl, combine warm water, honey, and yeast.

Let it sit for about 10 minutes until it begins to foam.

Step 2

Add salt, flour, and mix the dough using a spoon or spatula.

Step 3

Begin kneading the dough by hand, the more, the better.

Add at least 2 tablespoons of olive oil during the process to achieve a smooth and soft dough.

I knead it briefly, let it rest for about 10 minutes, and then knead it again with oil.

Step 4

Once the dough is well kneaded, cover it with a towel and allow it to rise for 30 minutes.

Step 5

Meanwhile, sauté the onion in a bit of oil.

Step 6

Cut the cheese into cubes.

Step 7

After the dough has risen, add the sautéed onion and 80g of cheese on top, reserving 20g for topping.

Step 8

Knead the dough thoroughly to incorporate all the cheese and onion. Initially, it will be challenging, but you will succeed.

Allow it to rest for 10 minutes, making it easier to handle when placing it in the tray.

Step 9

Spread the dough in a tray with your hands—mine is a 32 cm round pan. It can also fit in a standard oven tray.

Step 10

Use your fingers to press and make indents in the dough, brush with a small amount of olive oil, and sprinkle Herbes de Provence (or Italian herbs like oregano, marjoram, etc.).

Scatter the reserved 20g of cheese on top.

Optionally, add some chopped olives or dried tomatoes in olive oil.

Let it rise in the pan for 20 minutes.