Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Onion-Parmesan Focaccia with Tomatoes - Outdoor Wednesday



Garden tomatoes are especially prolific this year. Visiting family has helped us avoid waste by eating their way through pounds of tomatoes in various guises.



We've made especially good use of the heirlooms as they ripen. Their jewel tones more than compensate for their less than perfect shapes. I love the way they look in a bowl.



This is my nearly nine year old grandson, Drew. Drew likes to delegate. His mother and I are his sou chefs. This tomato salad was his contribution to the family table. Drew spent a good deal of time in the farmer's market selecting the tomatoes he wanted to use for his salad. Those we are growing in the garden didn't meet his standards, so we had no choice but to outsource. Drew's creation is wonderful on a salad plate, but with the addition of a little vinegar it also makes a terrific bruschetta. This is his recipe as it was shared with me.

Tomato Salad

Ingredients:
6 diced heirloom tomatoes, varied colors
12-oz. diced fresh mozzarella cheese
A handful of chopped basil
Lots of olive oil (it looked like 3 to 4 tablespoons )
Lots of freshly ground black pepper (it looked like 1/2 teaspoon)

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Chill for 1 hour. Yield: 6 to 8 servings.




The topping for this bread is just delightful. It would also be wonderful on a thin pizza crust or ready-made lavash. It's really easy to do. I'm including a recipe for the focaccia bread along with the topping. The bread, too, is wonderful. The focaccia can be served alone as a snack or combined with soup and salad for a hearty meal.

Onion-Parmesan Focaccia with Tomatoes

Ingredients:

Dough
2-1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1-1/2 cups warm water
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil + oil for bowl and baking sheet
1-1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
4 to 5 cups unbleached white flour
Topping
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cups chopped onions
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
5-oz. grated Parmesan cheese
4 to 5 fresh plum tomatoes, sliced

Directions:
Dough
Mix yeast and water in bowl of an electric stand mixer until yeast dissolves. Add olive oil, salt and flour. Using a dough hook, knead dough for 15 minutes. Form into a ball and transfer to an oiled bowl, turning to coat all surfaces of dough. Cover and let rise until double in bulk, about 2 hours. Using fingers, spread dough to edges of an oiled baking sheet. Mine was a 9 x 13-inch rectangle. Pinch edges to form a crust. Cover and let rise again until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours.
Topping
Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onions, oregano and basil and saute until onions are very soft. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
Finish
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spread onion mixture over dough. Sprinkle with 3/4 of cheese. Top with tomato slices and remainder of cheese. Bake on center oven rack for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Yield: 12 servings.

Recipe courtesy of the North American Olive Oil Association.

This recipe is being linked to Outdoor Wednesday, an event sponsored by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.

61 comments :

susan said...

Sheesh! A nine year old outsourcing! I bet he learned to look for the best from his grandmother :)

My Little Space said...

Oh my, the focaccia looks so delicious! I got to make them! Zach and Drew are such a good helping hand...he he! They break anything???

Regina said...

I love the salad.
He sure would be a good chef.
This is wonderful! Thanks for sharing.

A & W said...

oh wow I think I could eat that entire bowl of tomato salad. and that foccacia looks utterly amazing!!! i too love heirlooms and am SO happy that they are in season right now.
-Whitney

Mary Bergfeld said...

MLS, nothing in the kitchen! We did, however, have issues with a remote control. They just left a few hours ago. The house seems deadly silent. I will miss them. It's been a wonderful 2 weeks.

imjacobsmom said...

Great job, Drew! His tomato salad looks wonderful. We'll have to give that a try. We're just a bit behind you - our tomatoes are still green. I planted quite a few heirloom varieties this summer. ~ Robyn

theUngourmet said...

What a magnificent tomato salad! These flavors all mixed together are out of this world! :0)

This Focaccia is outstanding as well!

Tomatoes are just so wonderful!

Maryrose said...

Oh, there is nothing like a garden tomato. Wish I had some right now. Your salad and focaccia looks absolutely delicious. Can't wait to try them.... and thanks to Drew too.
Happy OD Wed.
Maryrose

betty-NZ said...

The bowl of tomatoes is just gorgeous!

Jamie said...

Oh my, does this focaccia look fantastic! I am most definitely trying this amazing topping recipe. Wow!

How thrilling that both grandsons are so into the food!

Katy ~ said...

LOL on the outsourcing!

The tomato salad looks so fresh and lovely and good for you! Drew is growing up so fast in comparison to the picture in your sidebar. He's a handsome young man, and he can COOK!!

The focaccia looks perfect. I must try this.

Rita said...

What a yummy looking salad. And that focaccia bread photo looks good enough to take a bite right off the screen.

petite nyonya said...

Drew's a handsome young man & looks like you've got a little chef in the making?! The focaccia looks really, really good & tasty.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

This looks beautiful Mary. The tomatoes really set this focaccia apart. I am a focaccia fan and am always looking for variations!

R3 Method Show said...

How did I go from despising tomatoes as a child to LOVING them!

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

Cheers for Oma in teaching these kids how to cook and be creative! Their future wives will love you!!

Cathy said...

I made pizza dough yesterday and Drew's topping sounds so much better than what I had planned. What fun to be in the kitchen with your grandson. It doesn't get much better than that.

Anonymous said...

I love anything with tomatoes! YUM!

Thanks for sharing recipes for the love apple!

Debbykay at Rose Cottage Gardens and Farm

Dee said...

i know i say this about a lot of your food, but geezee, this one looks SO GOOD. i love focaccia, and this one looks so tasty!

its easy for focaccia to be bland and too salty or a weird texture. i had a bunch of bad focaccia over about 2 months and just stopped getting it .. i guess i forgot how GOOD and good one could be!

Maya said...

I love tomatoes. We have a weekly vegi deliverey from a local organic farmer..., tomatoes have not (yet) been a part of it though.

Gypsy Lala said...

Wow, your tomatoes are so fresh. Enjoy reading your blog though I am not good in cooking. :)

Shellbelle said...

One of my favorite "munchy" meals is focaccia and steamed artichokes. Simple and perfect on a hot summer day with a big glass of lemonade or sweet tea.

Sorry to see your family has left, but what memories you'll have!

stefanie said...

the tomatoes are beautiful, so beautiful they don't look real

Lisa said...

Mouth watering! Your heirlooms are lovely and Drew is quite clever, isn't he?

Lyndas recipe box said...

Looks like Drew picked out some perfect tomatoes...love the looks of this salad! And the focaccia looks amazing, Mary..it's bookmarked1 I've got to try this....thanks!

Kathleen said...

Mary, I have to make that this weekend..it looks wonderful, and I have my pathetic little crop of tomatoes to use.
They were not good at all here this year..many fields had to be destroyed
due to blight!

Joyce said...

Drew certainly looks happy with his creation and I expect to see him on his own cooking TV show shortly:) A chip off of his grandmothers block for sure!
Joyce

Pam said...

I have been looking for that recipe for the tomato salad. My fil has been bugging me to make some salad like this.
Great job, Drew, for wanting to learn to cook!

Elisabeth said...

Oh, the tomato salad sounds wonderful. We have tons of fresh, garden tomatoes this year and I look forward to trying your recipe. Thank you so much for sharing. YUM!

My name is Riet said...

Beautiful pictures of wonderful food. YOur grandson will be a great chef. His salad looks terrific

Donna-FFW said...

Love the sound of both the salad and the focaccia. Great use of those gorgeous tomatoes.

brokeintrovert said...

I love your post! Thank you so much for visiting me on Outdoor Wednesday!

The tomatoes look so delicious.

bj said...

I love this post. The recipes sound delightful...o, and I have a grandson, Drew, too. We celebrated his 19th birthday last night!!
Your Drew is precious.

Anonymous said...

It is a pleasure for eyes and taste buds as well to scroll down your blog.
Thank you for visiting mine.
I will visit you again :o)

SmilingSally said...

I wish I could hire you as my cook!

Cass @ That Old House said...

Wow! I am so impressed by Drew's recipe, and his insistence on choosing his own tomatoes. Plus, his resourcefulness in out-sourcing some of the work!

Smart guy. He's a keeper.
Cass

penny said...

Everything looks so delicious I could dig right in :D
I just had a Jersey tomato sandwich for lunch. Jerseys are our favorite summer tomato.

Deb in Hawaii said...

What a great little chef--love the salad (and the bread too of course!)

Kat said...

I just love tomatoes! Both of these recipes look delicious. And I just scrolled down and caught the lemon cookie recipe. That one is definitely getting a try soon. Lemon is so refreshing when it's hot and dry. And they sound simple enough that I probably won't goof them up! Kathy

Maria Berg said...

Dear dear Mary, as usual you make me hungry!!! It look so good - I have been away on holiday so Now i have been looking around, lemon chocolate cake, red car, grandchildren helping you out, lemon cake Irish butter - nice to see you again!!!

Do you know the English name for the yellow mushroom I found in the forest - the a good and everybody eat them in Sweden.
MB

Pam @ Frippery said...

Yummy. Cute grandchef. I just found your blog today. Yippeee!

Carrie said...

Beautiful photos and delectable recipes!

aspiritofsimplicity said...

Oh that all looks so yummy!

Rhonda said...

How delicious the focaccia looks.
I love love love tomatoes. And onions, and parmesan and focaccia. I am definitely printing this recipe and using it. Yummy

Anonymous said...

Mary,
Mmmm! I could taste that tomatoe salad...Looks delicous! Thanks for sharing...Happy Outdoor..Smiles and Hugs..katherinellen

Karen said...

This salad looks delicious!! Drew did a great job! Karen

Kristin said...

Thanks for all of your comments! Everything here looks delish! Our tomatoes are late this year on acct of a very wet spring. Soon, I'll have too many to know what to do with!

Gaby said...

MARY!! I wish I was your neighbor - seriously everything you make makes my mouth water (even if I am totally stuffed)

Light and Voices said...

Land oh goshen...that Tomatoe salad with Focaccia bread sounds divine. Thanks for stopping and leaving a comment.
Joyce M

LV said...

Thanks for some really good sounding recipes. I do not do much cooking anymore, but what you prepared looked awful tempting. Tomatoes is one of my favorites. Happy you had time to visit today.

Ebie said...

I'm going to make Drew's tomato salad! One iron chef in the making. (setting a standard) I am drooling over your focaccia.
P.S. I love your header, it has a "welcome" delight! Thanks for your nice comments.

Lori said...

Everything looks so delicious Mary. I wish ours were prolific this year. I am so looking forward to having fattoush!

ellen b. said...

Oh my Drew made a dish that I'd love to imbibe...I hope that's the right word :0)
Lovely...

NKP said...

Hooray for summer tomatoes!
So great that your grandchildren are so interested in cooking. Looks totally delish.

Pam said...

I love that your grandson is a little foodie. His salad looks incredible and so does your focaccia - wow!

sunnymama said...

Wow! Looks fabulous! Your grandson's smile says it all :)

Lori E said...

Oh sure, dangle those beautiful tomatoes in front of me when I have been moaning about my lousy crop of heirlooms.
Thanks for the advice. I did add the manure to the garden early in the spring and it has no smell so I think it was pretty well rotted.
I just think the grower chose the wrong varieties for their plants.

Olga said...

Super jealous: tomatoes are my favorites! If you ever have too many, I'd pay for shipping ;)

Amanda said...

Your heirloom tomatoes are so pretty! I wish I would have grown them this year. Thanks for the foccia recipe, I will be making that soon :)

kelly said...

WOW! I made this recipe a few days ago and it was a huge hit!!! I loved it!!

Anonymous said...

WOW! This is a really Great recipe! I made it a few days ago and it was huge hit!!! WILL make again!

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