Tuscany grape pickers' grape focaccia

[courton]

Apparently the grape pickers around Tuscany had this bread during harvest time. Recipe provided by the late Rose Gray of the River Cafe fame and tweaked for the TMX by me. All I can say is it is a delicious explosion of flavours.

Best had with a cup of tea or coffee for brunch or lunch.

2.5 teas dry yeast
200 ml  water
4 tablespoons sugar
8 tablespoons olive oil
sea salt
500 gms bakers flour
1 kg small black seedless grapes
4 tablespoons of sugar
4 tablespoons fennel or caraway seeds

Mix yeast and water in TMX - 37 c/1 min/sp 1. Add 4 tablespoons sugar, 8 tablespoons olive oil, and pinch salt + flour. Knead for 5 mins. Roll into ball, cover with tea towel and leave for at least an hour in warm place until doubled. Divide into 2. Roll out half into (well greased with olive oil) rectangular dish, sprinkle with half of grapes, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons fennel/caraway seeds and drizzle generously with olive oil.

Roll out the other half of dough and place on top, making sure you seal the edges. Spread other half of grapes, 2 tablepoons of sugar and 2 tab of seeds. Drizzle generously with olive oil.

Bake in pre-heated oven 180c for 45 mins or until brown and crisp on top.

YUM! Try resisting having just one piece.

[courton]

[gertbysea]

What a very interesting combo of flavours.   I will make this  when I see some grapes in Cairns. That is a lot of fennel or caraway seeds. The aroma must be unreal.

Gert

[courton]

I used caraway seeds, but the original recipe calls for fennel seeds. It was delish with caraway seeds. Will try with fennel seeds.

[gertbysea]

The caraway  would make it a German Style and the fennel  Italian. Either way it sounds delish.

What sort of grapes did you use? 

Gert

[courton]

Small black seedless ones.

[gertbysea]

Al,I have seen here are the tasteless red ones so will wait for some muscatels or similar. . I really want to make that bread.

Gert

[courton]

It is sooooo yummy. No wonder the UK River Cafe had such a worldwide reputation.

[gertbysea]

I decided to make half this recipe as I have no one to share so I made it like. Focaccia.

It smells delicious and I am interested in what DH thinks of it.

[gertbysea]

Very interesting flavour. I loved it and so did DH. I will make this often.

Gert

[judydawn]

Another winner then, thanks Gretchen.  It looks like olives on top but knowing they are grapes, yes I could go a piece of that myself.

[Wonder]

Looks great Gretchen, did you use Carraway or fennel?

[gertbysea]

I used fennel. Itis relly a taste treat.

Thank you Courton for posting this recipe

Go look at the around the world in 80. Plates to see what else I made today. About to taste test it.

Gert

[courton]

Glad you enjoyed it. If you can get seedless small grapes try it with those next time.

[Cornish Cream]

Looks delicious Gert Thanks courton for sharing the recipe with us