Recipe: Easy Focaccia Bread Recipe with Creamy White Bean Dip

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Sewing Machine Day
This pincushion-like (rosemary “needles” and all) focaccia bread is super easy and delicious to whip up, and when paired with this creamy white bean and roasted red pepper dip, every stitch of it will disappear.

Ingredients

Homemade Focaccia Bread

1 ½ cups warm water
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp dry yeast
4 cups flour
2 tsp kosher salt
¼ cup olive oil

Focaccia Topping

2 tbsp olive oil, divided
¼ tsp coarse salt
1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary

Creamy White Bean Dip

1 ½ cups canned white kidney (aka cannellini) beans, rinsed and drained
½ cup diced roasted red peppers
½ cup plain Greek yogurt (we love CHOBANI brand)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
½ tsp chopped fresh rosemary
½ tsp sugar
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1) For the focaccia bread, in the bowl of an electric mixer, dissolve sugar in warm water. Sprinkle dry yeast over and let stand until yeast dissolves, about 10 minutes. Add flour, salt and ¼ cup olive oil. Turn mixer on low and when the dough starts to come together, increase speed to medium and mix until dough is smooth and elastic about 8 minutes. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and form dough into a ball. Oil a large bowl add dough turning to coat. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

2) Preheat oven to 425ºF. Coat two 9-inch round pans with a little olive oil. Punch dough down, divide in two and using your fingertips, press the dough into each of the prepared pans. Cover with a cloth and let dough rise 20 minutes more. Drizzle each pan of dough evenly with 1 tbsp of olive oil. Use a pastry brush to spread it. Sprinkle with salt and rosemary. Press fingertips all over dough, forming indentations. Bake 17 minutes or until golden. Remove from pans and cool on a wire rack.

3) For the white bean dip, in a food processor, combine white kidney beans, roasted red peppers, yogurt, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, rosemary, sugar, salt and pepper. Process until the dip is smooth, about 20 seconds. The dip may be refrigerated a few hours ahead of serving. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Serves 8