Mushroom, onion and basil focaccia
A tray focaccia with browned mushrooms, onions and basil folded through the dough. Cook the vegetables until their loose liquid has evaporated and let them cool before mixing them in.
Method
01 · Mix the wet focaccia dough
7–10 minUse: Strong white bread flour; Water for the dough; Extra-virgin olive oil for the dough; Fine salt; Instant dried yeast
Combine the flour, dough water, dough oil, salt and instant yeast in a stand-mixer bowl. Mix with the paddle on low for 4 minutes, scrape the bowl, then mix for 2–3 minutes at medium-low or the machine’s recommended speed.Ready when: The dough is sticky but cohesive, and begins to stretch rather than break.

01 MixMix a sticky, cohesive olive-oil dough. 02 · Fold during the bulk rise
90 minUse: Olive oil for the bowl
Coat a clean bowl with the separate bowl oil and add the dough. Cover and leave at 22–24°C for 90 minutes. At 30 and 60 minutes, lift one edge with oiled fingers and fold it over the centre; repeat around all four sides, then cover again. Prepare step 3 while the dough rests between folds.Ready when: The dough is aerated, elastic and noticeably expanded.

02 Fold RiseFold the dough as it rises. 03 · Prepare the separate additions
25–45 minUse: Button mushrooms; Peeled onions; Olive oil for the vegetables; Unsalted butter for the vegetables; Fresh basil leaves
During the bulk rise, heat the vegetable oil and butter in a wide frying pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring. Add the mushrooms and cook for another 6–8 minutes until the mixture is lightly browned with no loose liquid. Spread it in a shallow dish to cool to room temperature. Wash, dry and tear the basil; keep it separate until mixing.Ready when: Toppings are prepared as stated, with excess moisture controlled and cooked vegetables cooled.

03 Prepare ToppingCook the vegetables, then let them cool. 04 · Ease the dough into the oiled pan
8–10 minUse: Olive oil for the tray; Button mushrooms; Peeled onions; Olive oil for the vegetables; Unsalted butter for the vegetables; Fresh basil leaves
Before transferring the dough, spread it gently in its bowl. Add the entire cooled vegetable mixture and the basil, then fold until evenly distributed. Do not add the vegetables hot or pour loose liquid into the dough. Line the base of a 30×40 cm rimmed tray with baking paper rated for 230°C, and brush the paper and tray sides with the pan oil. Transfer the dough with a scraper and ease it outward with oiled fingertips. If it springs back, cover for 5 minutes before continuing. Aim for an even shallow rectangle rather than forcing it into every corner.Ready when: The tray holds an evenly spread layer, with no torn thin patches.

04 PanSpread the vegetable-filled dough in one shallow tray. 05 · Proof the dough in the pan
60–75 minUse:
Cover loosely and leave at 22–24°C for 60–75 minutes. After 20 minutes, gently ease the relaxed dough farther toward the tray corners if needed, then cover again. During the final 20 minutes, heat the oven to 230°C conventional.Ready when: The dough is puffy and jiggles when the tray is nudged; it holds a light fingertip dent.

05 Pan ProofProof until puffy. 06 · Dimple and add the measured topping
5–10 minUse: Extra-virgin olive oil for topping; Flaky salt
Drizzle the topping oil over the puffy dough and make deep dimples with fingertips without tearing. Sprinkle the measured finishing salt evenly over the top.Ready when: The surface is evenly dimpled and lightly topped, with no heavy mound or large pool of liquid.

06 Dimple TopOil, dimple and season lightly. 07 · Bake until the base and topping are set
25–30 minUse:
Bake on the lower-middle rack for 15 minutes at 230°C conventional. Reduce to 220°C and continue for 10–15 minutes. If the top darkens before the middle cooks, cover loosely with foil. Lift an edge with a spatula to check the base, and probe a thick bread area away from the topping.Ready when: The underside is browned and firm, the bread is set with no wet dough, and its centre reaches about 96°C.

07 BakeBake until golden and check the base. 08 · Cool before slicing
20 minUse:
Leave on the tray for 10 minutes. Lift or slide the bread onto a rack, remove the baking paper, and rest for at least 10 minutes more before cutting into twelve pieces.Ready when: The base stays firm and the bread can be cut without crushing the crumb.

08 CoolCool on a rack before cutting twelve pieces.
What to look for
| Stage | Look / feel for | Needs attention |
|---|---|---|
| Mix the wet focaccia dough | The dough is sticky but cohesive, and begins to stretch rather than break. | |
| Fold during the bulk rise | The dough is aerated, elastic and noticeably expanded. | |
| Prepare the separate additions | Toppings are prepared as stated, with excess moisture controlled and cooked vegetables cooled. | |
| Ease the dough into the oiled pan | The tray holds an evenly spread layer, with no torn thin patches. | |
| Proof the dough in the pan | The dough is puffy and jiggles when the tray is nudged; it holds a light fingertip dent. | |
| Dimple and add the measured topping | The surface is evenly dimpled and lightly topped, with no heavy mound or large pool of liquid. | |
| Bake until the base and topping are set | The underside is browned and firm, the bread is set with no wet dough, and its centre reaches about 96°C. | |
| Cool before slicing | The base stays firm and the bread can be cut without crushing the crumb. |
Troubleshooting
| If you see this | Likely cause | What to do now | Next time |
|---|---|---|---|
| The dough springs back during spreading. | Its gluten is still tight. | Cover and rest briefly, then ease outward again without tearing. | Keep the dough covered and include the stated pan relaxation. |
| The top is browned but bread beneath the topping is wet. | The topping held excess moisture or the bread needs more time. | Cover the top loosely with foil and continue baking until the bread reaches its stated cue. | Drain wet ingredients, use the shallow tray and check the base and bread centre. |
Storage: Best eaten on the day. Cool promptly, then refrigerate covered leftovers within 2 hours of baking and use within 2 days. Reheat until hot through. Freeze wrapped pieces for up to 1 month.; Contains: wheat, milk.; This Nepedia version has not been kitchen-tested.
Other approaches to this recipe
| Cook / recipe | Use | What differs |
|---|
The working ingredients and method form one recipe. Different formulas are compared without averaging their quantities or rise schedules.
