Peaches, red onion, and balsamic vinegar are the ingredients that make this focaccia bread shine.
Bread topped with peaches and red onion might be the last suggestion you would expect. Sure, rosemary focaccia is delightful. And, the tomato and onion focaccia bread from the DeKalb Farmer's Market in Atlanta is seriously good. However, if you've been following my Instagram (@hearthhealthhappiness), you probably discovered that I needed to incorporate a number of peaches into our diet lately - thanks, Costco! Of course, August in the American South means peach cobbler is a MUST, and I've shared my family's favorite "Simply Southern Peach Cobbler" online. But a happy experiment is what I truly want to share with you today: Balsamic Peach & Red Onion Focaccia Bread.
Yes, you read that right. As delicious as traditional rosemary focaccia bread is, I love testing new flavor combinations and when you find one that works, you run with it...to the next gathering. There is nothing wrong with getting some extra kudos for your fun with flavors. Go on, bask in the spotlight! 🙂
Fruits are particularly wonderful for balancing sweet and savory notes within their own flesh, and are particularly beautiful paired with other foods that will balance their sweetness. Focaccia bread also presents a blank slate for practicing with various herbs, spices, and random toppings. Who can turn down a bread "built" upon olive oil? You just can't.
Do you have to use bread flour?
No. In most cases, all purpose flour may be substituted for the bread flour that is typically called for in focaccia recipes. Bread dough will make the baked item a little fluffier, but when on a budget, I find that all purpose flour is perfectly fine. This recipe is still tender, but stable enough to accommodate the peaches and red onion, which are a little heavier than traditional herb toppings, like rosemary, that top focaccia bread.
Is homemade focaccia bread worth the effort?
Yes! Just understand that you need to allow time for the dough to rise as well as to thoroughly knead the dough (but not too much - we don't want a focaccia brick!). Some bread recipes require dough to rise overnight, but this will total just a few hours of prep time. If you use the allrecipes.com focaccia bread recipe (included in the notes of my below recipe), be sure to have plenty of olive oil on hand!
Recipe
Balsamic Peach & Red Onion Focaccia Bread
Equipment
- Cookie sheet
- Bowl (deep enough to allow bread dough to rise)
- Tea towel to cover bread dough
Ingredients
- 3 peaches thinly sliced
- ¼ red onion sliced
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
Instructions
- Prepare focaccia bread dough. I prefer the recipe from allrecipes.com (link included in notes).
- Add thin peach slices to the top of the focaccia bread. Arrange in whatever pattern you prefer.
- Top peach slices with red onion. Again, arrange in the pattern of your choice.
- Top with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and salt. Adjust amounts to suit your preferences.
- Bake for approximately 20 minutes, until the edges of the bread are golden brown, the peach slices have attached to the bread surface, and the red onion slices wilt. Check after 15 minutes, in case your oven runs hot.
- Allow to cool on baking rack until ready to serve.
Notes
Cheers to your hearth, health, and happiness!
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