Black Olive Focaccia Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons yeast
3 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried thyme
24 kalamata olives, pitted

Preparation

Pour the water into the bowl of a stand up mixer fitted with a dough hook and sprinkle in the yeast. Add 1 cup of the flour and the sugar then stir to combine. Let rest for ten minutes or so, until the yeast activates and bubbles appear on surface.
Add the rest of the flour, salt, olive oil, pepper, thyme and olives and mix well until dough begins to form a ball. Continue kneading for a few minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Place in a large, oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and rest in a warm place until the dough doubles, about 1 hour.
Lightly oil your hands then knock down the dough, pressing the air out of it. Knead a few times and then place dough onto an oiled baking sheet. Pull and press dough across pan until if forms a large, flattened circle and vigorously poke dimples into it with your fingertips. Drizzle with olive oil, coarse salt and pepper and let rise a second time until it doubles again, about 30 minutes.
While you wait preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Place in oven and bake until it has formed a golden crust, but is still soft in the centre, about 40 minutes.