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Apulian flatbread with tomatoes

Surrender to its tempting smell; here is Focaccia Barese—flatbread from Bari—an unrivaled treat! Put these few ingredients together for a burst of flavors that you can’t live without. 
Course Main Course, Snack
Cuisine Italian
Keyword apulian flatbread, italian flatbread, olives, tomatoes
Prep Time 3 hours
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 25 minutes
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Ingredients

  •  1¼ cups of all-purpose flour  (200g)
  •  1¼ cups of finely ground semolina  (200g)
  • 5 ounces   of Yukon Gold potatoes diced (150g)
  • 1 full tablespoon of dry yeast 
  • 10 tbsp of lukewarm water (150ml)
  • ½  tsp of sugar
  • 1 full teaspoon of salt 
  • 11/3- 1 2/3 cups of cherry tomatoes  (250-300g) 
  • 15-20  black olives 
  • Coarse salt
  • Dry oregano to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste

Instructions

  • Peel and dice the potatoes; cook them in boiling water for 20-25 minutes or until tender; 
  • Let the potatoes cool down a little and then mash or rice them for a more uniform texture;
  • Dissolve the yeast in 10 tablespoons (150ml) of lukewarm water and add the sugar to active it; 
  • Sift the two types of flour together; add the salt and the mashed potatoes; 
  • Mix it all with a stand mixer, like a KitchenAid, fitted with a dough-hook attachment or by hand on a flat surface. Mix it until smooth and even; 
  • Pour in the water along with the yeast and knead it carefully; 
  • Gradually add 2 tablespoons of oil, one at a time; 
  • Knead it with your hands or in a stand mixer at medium speed; don’t worry if the dough doesn’t come together, it will after you pour in some more water; 
  • Pour in the water until it’s a soft and almost sticky mixture; 
  • Knead it a couple of minutes until it becomes stretchy; the dough should release easily from the side of the bowl and twist around the hook; just don’t knead it too long; 
  • Pour it onto a floured surface and sprinkle the dough and your hands with all-purpose flour; shape the dough into a rectangle and then fold the two sides into the center and then fold it again laterally; 
  • When a smooth dough has formed, make a ball with floured hands and place it in the oiled bowl; 
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise until the dough has tripled in volume;
  • In the meantime, halve the tomatoes and dress them with salt, oil, and oregano; set them aside; a little liquid will be released;
  • Put the dough into an oiled round 10-inch (26-28cm) pan; flatten it with the tips of your well-oiled fingers; 
  • Place the tomatoes and black olives spaced evenly on the surface and press them into the dough. Pour a little tomato liquid for a more flavorful taste; 
  • Generously season it with extra virgin olive oil, dry oregano, and coarse salt; 
  • Let the flatbread rise for one hour or until it has doubled in volume; the tomatoes and olives will have sunk into the dough; 
  • Pre-heat the static oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake for about 25 minutes: first place the tray onto the lower rack for 10 minutes; then move it to the middle for the remaining 15 minutes; 
  • Check for doneness: the edge should be crunchy- take it out of the oven and let cool down a bit before serving. This scrumptious flatbread is ready to be eaten either hot or cold.