Kitchen Recipe Collection
Italian Focaccia Barese
A thick, incredibly soft and airy flatbread from Bari, characterized by boiled potatoes mixed into the dough, topped simply with cherry tomatoes and olives.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 175 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- italian
Ingredients
Scaled for 8 servings
- '00' flour and durum wheat semolina (remacinata)
- boiled potato (mashed)
- active dry yeast
- water
- extra virgin olive oil
- cherry tomatoes
- black olives (with pits)
- oregano
- coarse salt
Equipment
- Round iron baking pan
- Mixing bowl
Instructions
- 1
Prepare Potato
Boil a small potato until very soft. Peel and mash it completely while still warm.
- 2
Mix Dough
In a large bowl, mix the flour, semolina, mashed potato, yeast, and salt.
- 3
Add Liquid
Gradually add warm water and a splash of olive oil. Knead until you have a very soft, highly hydrated, and slightly sticky dough.
- 4
First Proof
Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1.5 to 2 hours).
- 5
Prepare Pan
Generously oil a round iron baking pan (the traditional vessel for this focaccia) with extra virgin olive oil.
- 6
Second Proof
Transfer the wet dough to the pan. Gently stretch it with oiled fingers to cover the bottom. Let it rise again for 30 minutes.
- 7
Top
Break the cherry tomatoes in half with your hands, squeezing their juices directly over the dough. Embed the tomato halves and whole black olives deep into the dough.
- 8
Season
Drizzle generously with more olive oil. Sprinkle heavily with oregano and coarse salt.
- 9
Bake
Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 20-25 minutes.
- 10
Serve
The bottom should be fried and crispy from the oil in the pan, while the inside remains soft and fluffy. Serve warm.
Cooking Tips
- The potato in the dough is the secret to its incredible, cloud-like softness.
- Traditionalists insist the tomatoes must be broken by hand, not cut with a knife, so the juices soak into the dough better.
Variations
- No Potato: You can omit the potato, but you must increase the water hydration significantly to achieve a similar softness.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- The ultimate street food in Bari, often eaten walking along the seafront.
Nutrition Estimate
320 calories · 6g protein · 45g carbs · 14g fat · 3g fiber per serving
