Olive, cherry tomato & feta focaccia

Bake this moreish focaccia with the flavours of the Med – it’s ideal for a picnic. Or try it minus the olives, tomatoes and feta for a very reliable plain focaccia

  • Prep:30 mins
    Cook:30 mins
    plus 1 hr 35 mins proving
  • Serves 8
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 366
  • fat 14g
  • saturates 4g
  • carbs 49g
  • sugars 0g
  • fibre 3g
  • protein 11g
  • salt 2.2g

Ingredients

  • 500g strong bread flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 7g sachet fast-action dried yeast
  • 5 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for the tin
  • 200g cherry tomatoes, halved (a mixture of colours looks nice)
  • small bunch of oregano, leaves picked, or use 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 150g kalamata olives, pitted
  • 100g feta, crumbled

Method

  1. Tip the flour into a large bowl with the yeast and 2 tsp salt, and mix together. Add 2 tbsp of the olive oil, then slowly pour in 350ml lukewarm water, continuing to mix until you have a slightly sticky dough. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, scraping around the sides of the bowl. Knead for 5-10 mins until the dough is soft and less sticky, then put in a clean bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for 1 hr until doubled in size.

  2. Generously oil a shallow rectangular baking tin (ours was 20 x 30cm). Tip in the dough, then use your hands to stretch it out until it reaches the corners of the tin. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave to prove for a further 35-45 mins. Meanwhile, tip the tomatoes into a bowl, season, add the oregano and drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil. Toss together and set aside.

  3. Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/ gas 7. Press the tomato halves evenly into the into the dough, then do the same with the olives. Crumble over the feta, then lightly press everything down again using your fingertips. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and scatter with sea salt, then bake for 25-30 mins until deep golden and puffed up. While the bread is still hot, drizzle over the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil. Leave to cool completely in the tin, then slice. You can wrap it in the tin to take on a picnic, or wrap individual squares. Will keep wrapped, or in an airtight container, for up to two days.

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