Focaccia
Focaccia is a flat leavened oven-baked Italian bread. It is similar to a flatbread called pizza bianca in Roman cuisine.
Etymology
In ancient Rome, panis focacius was a flatbread baked on the hearth. The word is derived from the Latin focus, 'hearth, place for baking'. The basic recipe is thought by some to have originated with the Etruscans, but today it is widely associated with Ligurian cuisine, while outside Liguria the word usually refers to the Genoese variants.The first attestation of the word focaccia dates back to the 14th century.
Focaccia is sometimes considered to be a variant of pizza in publications outside Italy, although focaccia is left to rise after being flattened, while pizza is baked immediately.
Regional variants
Ligurian variants
Focaccia genovese, marked by its finger-sized holes on its surface called "dimples", is brushed or sprinkled with olive oil, coarse salt, and sometimes water before the final rise.In Genoa, focaccia is eaten in the morning at breakfast or during the day. It is often dipped in milk or in cappuccino at breakfast and eaten warm and wet.
Other Ligurian variants
Focaccia has countless variations along the Ligurian coast, from the biscuit-hard focaccia secca to the corn-flour, oily, soft Voltri version.An extreme example is focaccia con il formaggio, also called focaccia di Recco or focaccia tipo Recco, which is made in Recco, near Genoa. This version has prescinsêua cheese sandwiched between two layers of paper-thin dough.
Other variants
In northwest Italy, a popular variant is focaccia dolce, which is sprinkled lightly with sugar, and may include raisins or honey. In northeast Italy, focaccia veneta is typical for Easter; it is based on eggs, sugar, and butter. In the city of Rimini, piada dei morti is a sweet focaccia topped with raisins, almonds, walnuts, and pine nuts, and traditionally eaten in November for All Souls' Day.In the Apulia region, southern Italy, focaccia pugliese incorporates potatoes in the dough, and is topped with tomatoes, olives, and fresh herbs, often oregano.
In South Tyrol and the Austrian village of Krimml, Osterfochaz is a traditional Easter gift from godparents to their godchildren. It is made slightly thinner in the centre so that dyed eggs may be placed there.Focaccia al rosmarino is topped with rosemary. It may be served as an antipasto, table bread or snack. Whole or sliced fresh rosemary leaves may be used, as can dried rosemary. It may be garnished with sprigs of fresh rosemary, after baking, and sprinkled with salt. Potato rosemary focaccia is sometimes called "potato pizza" in New York City.
Although rosemary is the most common herb used to flavor focaccia, sage is also used, and the variant is called focaccia alla salvia.
Focaccia al rosmarino may have a moist texture, and the exact recipe varies. It may be savory or sweet. It typically is baked, although it is sometimes fried. Garlic or basil may be added. It is sometimes served accompanied with slices of prosciutto. It may be used in the preparation of sandwiches.