3 Ways to serve Olive Focaccia


Olive Focaccia wrapped in paper and a box of The Chocolate Chamber's Mint Chocolate Powder

 

2 - 3 min read
Cebu City, Philippines

            It seems Hannah Choa, of Chocolate Chamber fame, has decided to bake homemade breads in the middle of quarantine.  She started with White Bread and now she experimented on Focaccia.

            We got a sample of her Olive Focaccia at its infancy stage and it was ah-mazing!  If some people have a green thumb, Hannah sure has magic in her hands with baking!

            So here we were with two packs of focaccia (along with The Chocolate Chamber’s powdered cacao chocolate with mint – plus cakes that deserve a separate article) and I wondered.  How may I serve this for my two teenage boys?  (And eldest Dad, of course.)

            You’d be amazed at the versatility of this Italian bread.  So I decided 3 delicious ways of serving it.  I’ll share them with you here along with quick recipes.

Olive Focaccia with Cheesy Italian Dipping Oil

            Since Hannah baked the Olive Focaccia real well, it was incredibly tasty eaten as is.  We cut some slices and laid it on a plate.  Then placed a dipping bowl right in the middle.  Focaccia pairs magnificently with dipping oil.  I prepared a quick one that was super cheesy!

The Olive Focaccia shined when paired with a
Cheesy Italian dipping oil!





                       















                         

                        The Italian dipping oil is very easy to make.                           

                        Simply mix all ingredients:


                                               ¼ cup olive oil

                                              2 cloves garlic (finely minced)

                                               ¼ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)

                                               3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (grated)


Spaghetti with Calamares and Toasted Olive Focaccia

            My teeners just love eating spaghetti.  All the more when paired with calamares (deep fried squid rings)!  So I toasted some focaccia for its siding.  It’s really easy to make.  Just prepare a rub with olive oil, Dijon mustard and Parmesan cheese.  Rub it on the focaccia slices then pop into the oven toaster until slightly brown.  And ding!  Remove from toaster and place on the plate of spaghetti!

My boys just love spaghetti - Filipino style.

               I mixed these ingredients for the rub:

 ¼ cup olive oil

 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (grated)

 

Caesar Salad with Lechon Belly and Focaccia Croutons

            Now with this one, my boys (all three of them) were certainly bowled over!  We had lots of lechon (roasted pig) belly left over so I decided to make a salad.  My husband (eldest boy) called it an oxymoron!  Caesar Salad with Lechon Belly – ironic isn’t it?  But it actually made a lot of sense!  All the more when I made croutons from the focaccia!


            How to make Focaccia Croutons:

                        Ingredients:

 ¼ cup olive oil

 3 cloves garlic (crushed and skin removed)

 ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)

                        Instructions:

            Cut focaccia into 1 inch squares.  Place the oil on a frying pan.  On slow heat, simmer for 1 minute.  Throw in the garlic and simmer for 4 minutes.  Throw in the cut focaccia.  Turn heat off and let focaccia squares absorb the oil.  Pour onto a baking sheet and bake 175˚C for 5 minutes.  Remove the tray and toss in the Parmesan cheese with the croutons and stir.  Bake another 5 minutes until slightly brown.  Remove from tray and let cool.  Toss into the Caesar Salad along with the Lechon Belly and enjoy! 

                       

            Hannah and her mom Raquel Choa run the artisanal chocolatier The Chocolate Chamber.  During this quarantine period, Hannah started baking breads in their family home called “Casa de Cacao”. 

            To order Hannah’s Olive Focaccia contact +639175561521 and +639176287661.  Pick-up at Casa de Cacao, 3349 Topaz St., Casals’ Village, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.   You may also pick them up at The Chocolate Chamber, Robinson’s Galleria Cebu.

           

 

 

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