Bosnian-Style Focaccia

Ingredients

While the Italian focaccia is typically seasoned with olive oil, rosemary, and sea salt, the Bosnian-style focaccia incorporates traditional Bosnian spices such as paprika, cumin, and sumac. Additionally, we will be using Bosnian cheese, known as "sir," to add a distinct flavor to the bread. We alse have the original recipe for Focaccia, so you can check it out.

• 500g (4 cups) all-purpose flour 500g (4 cups) all-purpose flour
• 7g (2 ¼ tsp) instant yeast 7g (2 ¼ tsp) instant yeast
• 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp sumac 1 tsp sumac
• 300ml (1 ¼ cups) warm water 300ml (1 ¼ cups) warm water
• 60ml (¼ cup) olive oil 60ml (¼ cup) olive oil
• 100g (3.5 oz) Bosnian cheese (sir), grated 100g (3.5 oz) Bosnian cheese (sir), grated
• Handful of olives, pitted and halved Handful of olives, pitted and halved
• Handful of cherry tomatoes, halved Handful of cherry tomatoes, halved
• Fresh rosemary sprigs Fresh rosemary sprigs
• Sea salt, for sprinkling Sea salt, for sprinkling

Nutrition

• Calories: 320 kcal / 1340 kJ
• Fat: 12g (Saturated Fat: 4g)
• Carbohydrates: 45g (Sugars: 1g)
• Protein: 9g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 1.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, sugar, salt, paprika, cumin, and sumac.
2. 2.
   Gradually add warm water and olive oil to the dry ingredients. Mix until a soft dough forms.
3. 3.
   Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic.
4. 4.
   Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
5. 5.
   Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
6. 6.
   Punch down the dough and transfer it to a greased baking sheet. Press the dough evenly into the pan.
7. 7.
   Sprinkle the grated Bosnian cheese (sir) over the dough, followed by olives, cherry tomatoes, and fresh rosemary.
8. 8.
   Drizzle olive oil over the toppings and sprinkle with sea salt.
9. 9.
   Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the focaccia turns golden brown.
10. 10.
    Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Bosnian cheese (sir) — For a stronger flavor, you can use aged Bosnian cheese. If Bosnian cheese is not available, you can substitute it with feta cheese.

Tips & Tricks

• For a softer texture, brush the baked focaccia with olive oil immediately after removing it from the oven.
• Experiment with different toppings such as caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, or sliced sausage to add variety to your Bosnian-style focaccia.
• Serve the focaccia warm as an appetizer or alongside a hearty Bosnian stew.

Serving advice

Serve the Bosnian-style focaccia warm, either as an appetizer or as a side dish to complement a main course. It pairs exceptionally well with traditional Bosnian dishes such as cevapi or burek.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation, garnish the focaccia with additional fresh rosemary sprigs and a drizzle of olive oil. Cut it into squares or wedges for easy serving.