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Stretchy Focaccias

17/11/2023

Stretchy focaccias are delicious small flatbreads enriched with melting cheese, making them particularly tasty and appreciated. Here is the traditional recipe with an Italian twist:

Ingredients

  • 500 g of type “00” flour
  • 25 g of fresh brewer’s yeast
  • 300 ml of lukewarm water
  • 10 g of sugar
  • 10 g of salt
  • 50 ml of extra-virgin olive oil
  • 200 g of stringy cheese (mozzarella, scamorza, or another cheese of your choice)
  • Dried oregano (optional)
  • Coarse salt to sprinkle (optional)

Preparation

  1. In a large bowl, dissolve the brewer’s yeast in the lukewarm water with the sugar.
  2. Add half of the flour and stir until a homogeneous dough is formed.
  3. Incorporate the salt, olive oil, and then gradually the remaining flour, working the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic.
  4. Cover the dough with a clean cloth and let it rise in a warm place away from drafts for about 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
  5. In the meantime, cut the cheese into small cubes for the filling of the focaccias.
  6. Once the dough has risen, divide it into balls of the desired size.
  7. Flatten each ball with your hands, place some cubes of stringy cheese in the center and then close the dough over itself, forming a ball again, making sure to seal the edges well so that the cheese does not leak out during baking.
  8. Arrange the focaccias on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between them, and allow them to rise for another 20-30 minutes.
  9. If desired, before baking, sprinkle the focaccias with a drizzle of oil, a pinch of coarse salt, and some dried oregano for added aroma.
  10. Bake in a preheated oven at 200 °C for about 15-20 minutes or until the focaccias are golden brown and the cheese is stretchy when cut.

Trivia

Stretchy focaccias can be served as an appetizer, snack, or a tasty second course. In Italy, these delicacies are appreciated on many occasions, both at home and in small restaurants or sandwich shops. Their versatility allows you to play with the ingredients: try adding some sliced meats like cooked ham or speck for a flavor explosion!

If you have special needs or ingredient preferences, let me know and I can adapt the recipe for you!

Stretchy Focaccias