FOCACCIA WITH HEMP SEED GOAT CHEESE, CHERRY TOMATOES and PEPPERS

FOCACCIA WITH HEMP SEED GOAT CHEESE, CHERRY TOMATOES and PEPPERS

INGREDIENTS

Focaccia dough

  • 4½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1¾ cups water room temperature
  • ¼ cup non-dairy milk
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 2½ tsp instant dry yeast
  • Marinade from 1 tub of Grounded Hemp Seed Goat Cheese (reserve cheese for focaccia topping)

Topping

  • 1 bunch fresh chives
  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • ½ red onion, sliced
  • ½ red pepper, diced finely
  • ½ yellow pepper, diced finely
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tub Grounded Hemp Seed Goat Cheese
  • Handful of fresh basil
  • Sea salt to taste.

METHOD

  1. To make the dough, combine the water, milk, sugar and yeast in a large bowl and mix. Leave for 5 minutes, until it’s foamy.
  2. Add the flour, salt and goat cheese marinade and begin mixing with a wooden spoon (or use a counter top mixer with a dough hook on medium speed). Knead until smooth and glossy (about 8 minutes). Add more flour if needed to stop the dough from sticking.
  3. Next, transfer the dough to a large oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place to rise, until the dough has doubled in size (about 1 hour).
  4. Preheat oven to 425ºF. Line a medium-size baking tin with parchment paper and press the dough firmly into the tin. Cover with plastic wrap and leave for another 30 minutes to rise.
  5. Remove plastic wrap and press small dents into the dough with your thumbs (aim to create about 12 little pools. In an alternating fashion, fill each dent with a mound of diced pepper, or a slice of cherry tomato. 
  6. Sprinkle over the garlic, rosemary, onion, basil leaves and sea salt.
  7. Lay the springs of chive on top and bake for 25 minutes.
  8. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 5 minutes before flipping the focaccia out of its tin (keep the toppings facing up). Finally, add dots of the Grounded Hemp Seed Goat Cheese. Cut into wedges and serve warm.