Potato Focaccia

Total Time: 2 hrs Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 cup lukewarm milk
• 2 1/4 cups bread flour, plus more for dusting
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more for bowl and baking sheet
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup pancetta, diced (about 1/4 pound)
• 1 1/2 cups russet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 1/2 pound)
• 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon, zest of

Recipe

• 1 proof yeast in milk and sugar for 10 minutes; combine 2 cups flour and the salt; pour yeast mixture and 1 t olive oil into well in flour mixture; stir to combine, adding remaining 1/4 cup flour as needed; dough should remain soft and slightly sticky.
• 2 scrape dough onto floured work surface and knead 5-10 minutes until smooth and elastic; place dough in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and put in a warm place to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• 3 heat the remaining 1 t olive oil over moderate heat and cook the pancetta slowly until very crisp; drain on paper towels and reserve the drippings.
• 4 boil the potatoes about 8 minutes or until tender; drain; in a bowl, pour the drippings over the warm potatoes; add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
• 5 place a baking stone in the oven or oil a baking sheet; preheat oven to 375°; lightly punch dough down and knead 10 times; roll out to a 12" diameter circle and transfer to a paddle or the oiled baking sheet; oil the surface of the dough and let it rise 30 minutes.
• 6 scatter the potato mixture over the dough and press in with the flat of your hand; without puncturing or tearing the dough, make evenly-spaced indentations over the dough's surface with your fingers.
• 7 bake until the bread is crisp on the bottom and the potatoes are golden brown, about 25 minutes; cool on wire rack.