Easy Bread Recipes – Strawberry Focaccia with Balsamic Onions

The strawberries are back in full force again, and this time, instead of making jam or a dessert, I made focaccia bread. I had spotted this recipe from Saveur Magazine a while back and knew I wanted to try it. And I’m sure glad I did. It’s sweet, but not too sweet, and it goes perfectly with a simple summer salad.

Here is my adapted version.

Ingredients
{1} 1¼ oz package dry yeast {or 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast}
1 cup warm water {100–110 degrees}
1 teaspoon honey
2½ cups flour
1 teaspoons kosher salt
¼ cup plus 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 medium red onion, sliced thin
2½ teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/4 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced into 1/8″ pieces
8 fresh basil leaves, sliced
fresh cracked salt and pepper

Directions

Combine the yeast, water and honey in a bowl and let it rest for 10 minutes, or until tiny bubbles form on the top. In a large bowl, mix together the flour and salt and set aside.

Once bubbles have formed on the top of the yeast mixtures, add in ¼ cup of olive oil and stir.

Make a well in the center of the bowl with the flour mixture and pour the yeast mixture into the center of it.  Stir well to combine, turn dough onto a flour surface and knead the dough until it is nice and soft {about 5 minutes}. Form a dough ball, place it in an oiled bowl, and cover with a kitchen towel. Let the dough rest or about an hour or until it doubles in size.

Brush a 9×13–inch baking sheet/pan with olive oil and set aside.

Once the dough has risen, place it in the center of the baking sheet/pan and slowly work the dough to the edges of the pan.  Make little pockets with your finger tips, and brush with 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Set the pan of dough aside and let it rise for 30 minutes until it puffs up a bit.

While the dough is rising, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet and cook the onions over medium heat until caramelized {about 10 -12 minutes}.  Slowly stir in the balsamic vinegar and cook just until the liquid is evaporated.

Preheat the over to 400 degrees.  Press strawberry slices into the dough and top with caramelized onions and sliced basil.  Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the top sprinkle a bit of freshly ground salt and pepper over the top.

Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven until lightly browned {about 18 -20 minutes}.

Remove from oven, cool slightly and cut into 12 pieces {I used a pizza cutter for this}.

Serve with pasta or a summer salad.  Yumm!

Looking for more bread recipes?  Check out The Bread Bible: 300 Favorite Recipes By Beth Hensperger on Amazon.com. Steamed Pecan Corn Bread, pancakes, golden brioches, flatbreads, focaccia, pizza dough, dinner rolls, dessert breads, strudels, breakfast buns — the choices are endless. The recipes are foolproof, step-by-step, and easy-to-follow. Busy bakers will also appreciate the excellent selection of recipes for bread machines and food processors.