If you’ve never tasted fresh concord grapes before, this is where that grape-y flavor that inspires all grape flavored things from your childhood comes from. I never knew that there were fresh grapes that really tasted like this! Concord grapes have a pretty short season, so get on over to your local farmers market and grab some before they’re gone. I think you could also use red grapes for this bread. They will bake up nicely, just won’t have that strong grape flavor like the concords.
Grape Focaccia, adapted from Lottie & Doof
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water (105° to 110°F)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon dry milk powder
- 3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and cut into bits
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 1 1/2 cups halved Concord grapes, seeded
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary needles
- 2 tablespoons turbinado (raw) sugar
- 2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
Instructions
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, stir together the water, sugar, and yeast. Let the mixture sit until foamy, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, in another bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Add the milk powder and 1 1/2 tablespoons of the softened butter to the yeast mixture and mix well. Add the flour mixture and set the mixer to lowest setting. Mix for 2 minutes. Attach the dough hook , raise speed to medium-low, and knead for 8 minutes longer. The dough will seem really wet.
Brush a large bowl with a generous amount of the melted butter. Scrape dough into the buttered bowl and turn to coat with butter. Brush more of the melted butter on top of the dough. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise in a cool place (65°F) until the dough doubles in bulk, 1 1/2-2 hours.
Press the dough down with a floured hand. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and form it into a ball. Place it on a large baking sheet brushed with melted butter and brush top with more of the melted butter. Cover the ball with a clean, damp kitchen towel and set aside for 20 minutes.
Divide dough in half and shape into two balls. Dip your fingers in melted butter and press and stretch each ball into a 8-9 inch circle. The dough should be slightly dimpled from your fingers. Brush tops with remaining melted butter, cover with the damp towel. Let the dough rise in a cool place for 1 1/4 hours.
Preheat the oven to 450° F. Top the dough evenly with the grapes, rosemary and the remaining 2 tablespoons of salted butter bits. Sprinkle with the turbinado sugar and the salt. Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and puffed around edges. Let cool before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.
https://www.theculinaryenthusiast.com/2014/10/14/grape-foccaccia/
Grape Foccaccia
