Potato Focaccia (Italian Flatbread) Recipe

Focaccia, or Italian flatbread, usually stales quickly, but not this one. It will still taste fine the next day, thanks to potatoes, which add staying power as well as a mildly sweet taste and moistness. You can use this for pizza, or serve it as the Italians do, with a small bowl of heated olive oil, flavored with crushed rosemary and dried red pepper, for dipping or drizzling. Just remember: Even heart-healthy olive oil has 120 calories per tablespoon!

 

Ingredients:

1/3 pound peeled and chopped red potatoes
1/3 cup water
1 cup nonfat buttermilk, warmed to 110°

1 package active dry yeast

1 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt
5 to 5 1/2 cups bread flour

 

Method

Combine potatoes and water in a small saucepan; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Transfer mixture to a food processor and process until smooth. Add water to mixture to measure 1 cup, if necessary.
 

Combine warm buttermilk and sugar in a large mixing bowl; sprinkle yeast over buttermilk and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in olive oil, salt, potato puree, and 3 cups flour, beating well at medium speed in electric mixer fitted with dough hook. Stir in remaining flour, 1 cup at a time; transfer to a bowl coated with cooking spray. Coat hands with cooking spray; knead 2 minutes or until it is soft and slightly sticky. Form it into a ball, and coat evenly with cooking spray. Cover with cloth or plastic wrap and let dough rise in a warm place, free from drafts, 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until doubled in bulk.
 

Press dough into a 15- x 10- x 1-inch jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray; cover loosely, and let rise in a warm place 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until almost doubled in bulk.
 

Preheat oven to 400°. Make 1/4-inch deep indentations at 2-inch intervals on top of dough with the tip of a wooden spoon handle or fingertip; coat with cooking spray. Bake in bottom third of oven at 400° for 20 to 25

 minutes or until golden. cool in pan on a wire rack; serve warm or at room temperature. Cut into 3 x 2 inch rectangle.

 

Per serving: 22 g carbohydrates, 125 calories, 2 g fat (0 g saturated), 0 mg cholesterol, 97 mg sodium, 4 g protein, 4g Protein.

 

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