Halloween Focaccia
An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott
Preparation time: 45 minutes plus overnight and 1.5 hours rising time
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 12
- 750ml/25flozs. lukewarm water (I needed an extra 1/4 cup/60ml/2flozs due to my flour)
- 2 tablespoons activated charcoal powder
- 2 teaspoons salt plus extra for sprinkling
- 750g/25ozs. flour (high protein flour if possible)
- 3 teaspoons active dry yeast OR 50-100g (1.7-3.5ozs) sourdough starter
- 100ml/3.5ozs. Extra virgin olive oil
For topping
- Yellow and green capsicum
- 1/2 large eggplant
- 1/2 white or yellow onion
- 1/2 potato
- Small bunch enoki mushrooms
- 3 slices carrot
Step 1 - First make the focaccia dough which will rise in the fridge overnight. Mix the water with the activated charcoal powder and salt and stir to dissolve. In a large bowl (the largest that you have or split over two bowls) mix the flour and yeast. Add the black water to the flour and stir to combine well. Cover and allow to rise in your fridge overnight, for up to 3 nights.
Step 2 - Take the bowl out of the fridge and spread 75ml/3.5flozs of the oil into a large 30x40cm or 12x16inch tray with at least 1.5 inch height as the focaccia will rise. Spread out the dough-it will be very wet. If it doesn't spread let it come to temperature a bit and wait and then spread out to the edge of the tray. Cover and allow to rise until puffy for about 1-1.5 hours (it needs a bit more time as it is coming out of the fridge). Don't worry if it looks grey, once baked it will be inky black.
Step 3 - Meanwhile I always lay out my design on another tray lined just so I have the scene set the way that I want it. Place the onion in the corner and cut a house, roof and chimney out of capsicum. I made little pumpkins out of the carrot discs. I used some Halloween cutters on the black eggplant skin to make bats and a witch flying on a broomstick. I also carved out little tombstones and wrote RIP on them and made little ghosts out of thinly sliced potato using a small paring knife. I simulated stars by using the yellow capsicum.
Step 4 - Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Once the dough has risen place your scene over the risen dough and drizzle with the remaining olive oil and extra salt. Bake for 30 minutes and serve warm.