Ciao Chow Linda

Potato Sausage Focaccia

Author: Ciao Chow Linda

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 oz. envelope dry active yeast (about 2 1/4 tsp.)

• 2 1/2 cups lukewarm water (from 105 degrees to 110 degrees)

• 2 tsp. honey

• 4-5 cups flour

• 1 Tablespoon kosher salt or 5 teaspoons table salt

• 6 Tbspns. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for hands

• 1 large baking potato

• 1 link of Italian sausage

• a few tablespoons minced rosemary

• kosher or coarse sea salt

• butter to grease the pan

• 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. Whisk the 1/4 oz. envelope of yeast with the honey and 2 1/2 cups lukewarm water (temperature of water can be from 105 degrees to 110 degrees)

2. Let the yeast sit for 10 minutes or so to see if it activates in the water.

3. If it doesn’t look creamy or foamy, your yeast is dead.

4. Start adding the flour and salt, adding only 4 cups to start.

5. Add more flour if needed, but what you want is a shaggy dough, with no streaks of flour.

6. Put 4 tablespoons olive oil in a large bowl.

7. Transfer the dough to a bowl, turn to coat the dough, and cover with plastic wrap.

8. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight.

9. If you’re in a hurry, let the dough rise at room temperature.

10. Meanwhile, boil the potato in water until it’s cooked nearly all the way through.

11. Don’t let it cook past that point since it might fall apart in the water.

12. it’s actually better if you slightly undercook the potato.

13. Let the potato cool, then peel and slice it thinly.

14. Generously butter a 13″ x 9″ baking sheet, for thicker focaccia, or a 18″ x 13″ rimmed baking sheet, for thinner, crispier focaccia.

15. Dump the dough into the pan and let it rise a second time before trying to stretch it out to fit the pan.

16. After it has risen another hour or two, grease your fingers with olive oil and spread the dough across to the corners of the pan, dimpling with your fingers.

17. If you want a thicker focaccia, you can let it rise another 1/2 hour to an hour.

18. Otherwise, slice the potatoes and layer them gently over the focaccia.

19. Sprinkle with salt and rosemary, and spread pieces of sausage all around.

20. Drizzle with a little more olive oil.

21. Bake at 450 and check after about 20 minutes.

22. Add the grated mozzarella and bake another ten minutes or until browned on top.