Garlic Focaccia Bread

I have been wanting and thinking of baking a bread since long. Even the yeast packet I had brought had got tired of sitting in my kitchen racks. This is the first bread I baked, finally. It came out really well and we all liked it too..The only thing I wish is that I had baked it with fresh basil leaves rather than the dried packaged one, the taste would have been really much different and better!!!

This could be such a appetizer for any party that you hold have. Keep it ready before your guests arrive, put it in the oven once they are settled in and take it out fresh in about fifteen minutes. Cut it into bite sized pieces and serve warm with some nice dip... 

All that I used :

• All purpose flour - 2 cups

• Basil - about 2 Tbsp

• Active dry yeast - 1 tsp

• Black pepper - a generous pinch

• Olive oil - 2 Tbsp

• Unsalted butter - 1/2 stick

• Garlic - 6-8 pods

• Salt - 1 tsp

• Water - about a cup

How I made it :

• It is definitely better to use fresh basil leaves but I used dry and crushed basil leaves (I decided to make it in a jiffy and basil was the only thing I did not have so I went ahead and used the packaged dried basil). If you are using fresh leaves, chop them nice and fine.

• Take the all-purpose flour in a big bowl. Add about 1 table spoon of the chopped basil, the yeast, salt and black pepper. Mix well.

• Add the olive oil to the flour mixture.

• Warm about a cup of water.

• Using the warm water, knead the flour mixture into a soft and nice dough. It should take about 5 minutes.

• Take a pizza pan and grease it lightly with some butter and flour (it is a general thing to do for any baking).

• Take the dough and flatten it on the pizza pan, making a circle of about 9 inch.

• Cover it (with some other big bowl or utensil) and let it rest and rise. Leave it for about 30 minutes.

• Now preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Use a butter knife and make about 4 lines on the flattened dough. (see pic below to get a fair idea what I mean).

• Melt the butter. Mince the garlic. Add the garlic and the remaining chopped basil. Mix well.

• Spread the butter mixture on the dough.

• Now put the tray in the oven and bake it for about 15 minutes. Check if it is done and cooked fully.

Cut in desirable pieces and serve warm....Tasty soft fresh and warm garlic bread is ready to melt in your mouth...The aroma is what will pull people..

Note :

• Definitely use fresh basil..I used the dry one so my pic doesn't look all that great, and the basil looks a little bit too much.

• I kind of like garlic so I can use it a little more. Adjust the amount of garlic you want to use depending on your taste.