Shakshouka Focaccia (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Focaccia Dough
01 -
3 cups room temperature water
02 -
½ tsp active dry yeast
03 -
6¾ cups all purpose flour
04 -
2 tsp sugar
05 -
2 tsp kosher salt
→ Matbucha
06 -
12 tomatoes on the vine, peeled or 2 (28 oz) cans whole peeled tomatoes
07 -
2 tbsp olive oil
08 -
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
09 -
1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and quartered
10 -
1 tbsp + 1 tsp kosher salt
11 -
1 tsp sugar
→ Assembly
12 -
Flour, for shaping
13 -
Olive oil, as needed
14 -
¼ cup black sesame seeds or nigella seeds
15 -
6 large eggs
16 -
Sea salt, as needed
17 -
Parsley, finely chopped to garnish
# Instructions:
01 -
In a large bowl, whisk together the yeast, flour, sugar, and salt. Use your hand to combine the ingredients, mixing the dough by hand until all of the flour has dissolved and there aren't any clumps. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest until it has risen slightly, about 30 minutes.
02 -
Remove the plastic wrap and drizzle some olive oil onto your hands. Grab a quarter of the dough from one side of the bowl, then stretch it up and over onto the center of the dough, allowing it to fold over itself. Turn the bowl 90 degrees and repeat with another quarter of the dough. Repeat until you have made a 360 degree turn around the bowl. Slide a bench scraper under the dough and flip it over. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rest for 20 minutes.
03 -
Repeat the folding process again. Allow to rest for 20 minutes.
04 -
Heat the olive oil in a large pot or saucepan over medium-low heat. Add in the garlic and jalapenos. Cook until the garlic is golden, about 5-7 minutes. Decrease the heat to low.
05 -
Use your hands to crush the tomatoes one by one as your place them into the pan. Stir in the salt and sugar. Cook, stirring every 5-10 minutes, until the tomatoes have thickened into a jam-like sauce, about 90 minutes. Set aside.
06 -
Heavily flour a clean work surface. Transfer the dough to the work surface and stretch into a 14 x 8-inch rectangle. Divide in half lengthwise and then into 3 strips to make a total of 6 pieces. Fold the four corners of each dough square into the center so that it forms a circle. Flip each circle over.
07 -
Place the dough balls on a floured pan and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Allow to rise in a warm spot for 30 minutes.
08 -
Meanwhile, place a pizza stone or steel in the oven and heat to 500°F (260°C).
09 -
Place a sheet of parchment paper on a pizza peel. Place two pieces of dough onto the peel. Pour 1 tbsp olive oil into a small bowl and dip your fingers into it. Press your fingers into the center of the dough, pushing it outward so that it forms a bowl-like shape in the center. There should be a 1-inch border of thicker dough around the edges to serve as a wall to keep the eggs and sauce inside. Repeat with the second piece of dough. Go back to the first dough and flatten the center of the dough again. Add ⅓ cup of the matbucha sauce to the center of the dough, spreading it in an even layer. Sprinkle the sesame or nigella seeds on the edges of the dough. Make a well in the center of the sauce and crack an egg into it. Sprinkle salt over the top. Repeat with the second dough round.
10 -
Slide the parchment paper with the shakshouka focaccia on it onto the preheated pizza steel. Bake for 9-10 minutes, or until the breads are browned and the eggs are cooked. Remove from the oven.
11 -
Repeat with the remaining pieces of dough.
12 -
Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
# Notes:
01 -
This fusion dish combines the Middle Eastern shakshouka with Italian focaccia for a hearty breakfast or brunch option.
02 -
The matbucha sauce can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated to save time.