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Focaccia with Leeks, Fennel, and Parmesan

Leigh Belanger
The dough for this focaccia is adapted from a foolproof recipe in Marcella Hazan’s Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking.
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Ingredients
  

  • 1 package 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons lukewarm water
  • 9 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt plus more for seasoning
  • 5 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 large leek trimmed and halved vertically, then cut into ½-inch slices (about 2 cups)
  • ½ bulb fennel cored and cut into ½-inch-thick slices (about 1 cup)
  • 1 teaspoon anise seeds
  • 1 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Dissolve yeast in a small bowl with ½ cup water and let sit for about 10 minutes.
  • Transfer yeast mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon salt, ¾ cup water, and 2½ cups flour. Mix the dough on medium-low speed until it’s soft and somewhat pliable, 2 to 3 minutes. It will still be sticky. Add 2½ cups flour and ¾ cup water and mix on medium-low for about 7 minutes, until dough is fully pliable. If the dough is still a little sticky, add remaining flour as needed—but check the consistency of the dough as you go to determine how much.
  • Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead it a few times and form into a round. Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil onto an 18-by-13-inch baking sheet and place dough in the center. Cover with a damp towel, and place in a warm spot to rise for 1½ to 2 hours.
  • While dough is rising, pour 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. When oil is warm, add leeks and fennel and cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes. Add anise seeds and a pinch of salt, and cook for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • When dough has finished rising, remove the towel and stretch dough out to cover the entire surface of the pan. It should be about a ¼-inch thick. Cover with the damp towel, and let rise for 45 more minutes.
  • Heat oven to 450°F and set a rack in the center. Use the tips of your fingers to poke dough all over, covering the surface with little hollows. Whisk together 3 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons water, and 1 teaspoon salt, and pour it over the top of the focaccia dough. Spread leek and fennel mixture over the top, and sprinkle with parmesan.
  • Bake for 15 minutes, then rotate the pan and bake for another 8 to 10 minutes. The leeks on top should be browned at the edges, and the bread should be the color of light caramel. Serve warm or at room temperature. Leftover focaccia can be frozen for up to 1 month.