Panera Bread Focaccia (Copycat Recipe)

Panera Bread sells, sea salt focaccia's which happens to be the bread they make for the frontega chicken panini. Focaccia is a flat oven baked loaf of bread made from yeast. Though flat it's not heavy or dense. Focaccia can be served as an appetizer with an olive oil dip, with pasta and of coarse panini's.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 cups warm water
• 1 TBSP dry yeast
• 2 TBSP sugar
• 2 tsp coarse kosher salt (divided)
• 4 1/4 cups flour
• 1/3 cup olive oil (divided )

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Combine the water, yeast and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Allow to poof 5 minutes.
2. 2Stir in 1 teaspoon of salt and gradually add in the flour with the mixer running on low. Knead for 5 minutes. Dough should be smooth and slightly tacky. Place into a greased bowl and lightly grease the top with 2 Tbsp of olive oil. Allow to rise 1 hour in a warm place.
3. 3Grease three 9-inch round pans with 4 TBSP of olive oil. Set aside.
4. 4Turn dough over onto a working surface and cut into 3 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and place into greased pans. Spread dough out and grease the tops using the oil from the pans. Indent each dough with the tips of your fingers. Let rise 25 minutes in a warm place or until doubled in size.
5. 5Preheat oven to 400° F. Lightly make indents on the tops of dough and sprinkle with the remaining teaspoon of salt. Bake 20 minutes or until lightly browned.