Focaccia Barese hailing from Puglia in Italy’s south has the most wonderful texture thanks to mashed potato in the dough. Usually topped with dried herbs, olives and cherry tomatoes, here the delicious mild, almost lemony tang of the Le Marquis Chevre du Pelussin, compliments the richness of the potatoes for a new take on a classic.
WHAT YOU NEED
1 (150g) waxy potato
200g semolina flour (semola)
300g 00 flour
5g dry active yeast
10g fine sea salt
350ml warm water
Extra virgin olive, for greasing plus extra for topping
To top
250g Will Studd Le Marquis Chevre du Pelussin
2 (300g) waxy potatoes, thinly sliced
Sea salt
Rosemary, for garnish
WHAT TO DO
Peel and roughly chop the potato. Place in a small pot and cover with water. Bring to the boil and cook until very tender. Mash with the back of a fork and set aside to cool a little.
Combine the flours, yeast and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add in the potato and stream in the warm water. Increase the speed to high and mix for 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Alternatively mix by hand then turn out to a floured board and knead until smooth. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and set aside to rise in a warm space for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 225C.
Grease a large baking tray with olive oil (or alternatively line a tray with greaseproof paper and brush with oil) and using your hands or a pastry scraper, tip the dough from the bowl onto the oiled tray. Using your fingers, gently spread the dough towards the corners of the tray. Allow to rise in a warm place for a further 30-45 minutes.
Dot pieces of the cheese onto the dough and top with the thinly sliced potatoes. Drizzle the focaccia with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Scatter with rosemary and serve. The focaccia is best eaten on the same day.
Created by Julia Ostro for Will Studd
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