Fougasse (Olive Bread)

• warm water1 1⁄2 cups
• yeast1 packet

  (7 g)

• kosher salt↗2 1⁄2 teaspoons
• white sugar↗1⁄2 tablespoon
• extra virgin olive oil↗2 tablespoons
• all-purpose flour↗3 1⁄2 cups
• kalamata olives (quarters if large) or 1 cup nicoise olive, pits removed and cut in half (quarters if large)↗1 cup
• olive oil, for greasing the baking sheet and brushing the loaf↗

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   In a 3-qt (or larger) bowl, combine water, yeast, salt, sugar and olive oil. Stir in flour with a wooden spoon, or in a heavy-duty stand mixer with dough hook, just until all the flour is incorporated; do not knead. Let stand at room temperature 2 hours, or until it rises then collapses. (Dough may be used at this point, or refrigerated for up to 5 days.).

2. 2

   Place an empty broiler tray or baking pan in the oven and preheat oven to 400°F

3. 3

   Divide dough in half and work with one piece at a time. Form the dough into a ball, then flatten to about 1/2" thickness on a heavily-floured work surface. (This dough needs to be drier than most to hold the cut shapes, so keep that in mind when adding bench flour.) Sprinkle with half the olives, then roll up jelly-roll-fashion. Form into a ball, then into a flat oval. Slice angled slits into the dough, then gently pull them open. Transfer to a greased cookie sheet and brush with more olive oil. Let rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.

4. 4

   Place the cookie sheet on a rack in the middle of the oven. Pour 1 cup hot water into the empty broiler pan and quickly close the oven door. Bake 20-25 minutes, until puffy and golden brown (the crust will not get crackly hard because of the oil).

5. 5

   Repeat with remaining dough and remaining olives.