Ingredients
Starter
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (123 g) all purpose gluten free flour (Better Batter or mock Better Batter is best) (See Recipe Notes)
Scant 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
2 1/2 tablespoons (20 g) tapioca starch/flour (See Recipe Notes)
2 teaspoons (6 g) instant yeast
1 3/4 cups (14 fluid ounces) warm water
1 tablespoon (21 g) honey
Dough
1 1/2 cups + 3 tablespoons (236 g) all purpose gluten free flour (Better Batter or mock Better Batter is best) (See Recipe Notes)
3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (48 g) tapioca starch/flour (See Recipe Notes)
1 teaspoon (6 g) kosher salt
1 tablespoon (12 g) granulated sugar
Risen starter
3 tablespoons (42 g) extra virgin olive oil (See Recipe Notes)
Topping
1/4 cup (56 g) extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons dried herbs de Provence (or your favorite savory dried herbs)
Notes
For the flours
Please click the link for the all purpose gluten free flour blends page. The flour blend you choose is always important, but here I really can only promise results if you use either Better Batter (original blend) or my mock Better Batter.
You must use tapioca starch/flour. There is no substitute.
For the oil
We use a ton of extra virgin olive oil in this recipe. Make sure you use an oil you really like the smell and taste of.
If you would like to use a different oil, use something with flavor that you like. A neutral cooking oil will crisp the bread, but not add flavor. That will make the bread seem almost a bit oily, even though it really isn’t.
Directions
To make the starter, place all the starter ingredients in a medium-size bowl, and whisk until well-combined. The mixture will be thick and shapeless. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and set it aside in a warm, draft-free location to rise until at least doubled in size. This will take about an hour in a relatively warm environment, but could take much longer in a cold, dry kitchen.
Once the starter has finished rising, make the dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a large bowl with a heavy-duty handheld mixer, place the flour, xanthan gum, tapioca starch/flour, salt, and sugar, and whisk to combine well.
Add the risen starter and the 3 tablespoons olive oil and mix on low speed until combined. Raise the mixer speed to medium-high and mix until the dough begins to take on a whipped appearance (about 3 minutes).
Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled proofing bucket or bowl with a lid that’s large enough for the dough to double (although it won’t likely double). Cover the bowl or bucket tightly with the lid (if you don’t have a lid make sure you cover it very well with plastic wrap) and place it in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours and up to 3 days.
On baking day, begin with a rimmed baking sheet that’s about jelly roll pan size (10-inches x 15-inches). A half baking sheet (13-inches x 18-inches) is fine, too. Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of the olive oil from the topping on the bottom of the baking sheet, and spread it evenly around the surface of the pan.
Remove the prepared dough from the refrigerator and turn it out onto the oiled baking sheet. Drizzle the top and your clean hands lightly with a bit more oil, and, with the tips of your fingers, press and push the dough into a rectangle about 9-inches x 13-inches. The dough will be very sticky and difficult to handle. Persist with a light touch. Using an oiled rolling pin, an oiled bench scraper, or an oiled cake turner, smooth the top of the rectangle as much as you can.
Sprinkle the top of the dough evenly with the dried herbs. Drizzle evenly with the remaining olive oil, brushing it very gently with a pastry brush to distribute the oil evenly. Cover the top of the dough with oiled plastic wrap and place it in a warm, draft-free location to rise until nearly doubled in size (at least 2 hours). The dough will rise both up and out.
When the dough is nearly at the end of its rise, preheat your oven to 400°F. Uncover the risen dough, drizzle lightly with more olive oil if you like, and place in the center of the preheated oven. Bake for 15 minutes.
Reduce the oven temp to 375°F and bake until most of the oil has been absorbed by the bread, the top is lightly golden brown, the bread is firm to the touch, and the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer in the center reads at least 200°F (another 10 to 15 minutes).
Remove the pan from the oven, and immediately transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool as long as you can stand it. Slice and serve warm.
Love,
Nicole
https://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/gluten-free-herb-focaccia-bread/