Cheesy Potato Stuffed Focaccia
For the fluffiest focaccia recipe ever, consider trying this potato focaccia recipe, which includes a filling of mashed potatoes and cheese. While most focaccia recipes simply use a yeast-based dough, this version has the added bonus of mashed potatoes which improves the texture of the focaccia substantially. Like other focaccia recipes, this bread can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or snack. It is also great to use for sandwiches with an array of fillings for lunch.
To make this potato focaccia recipe, first you make a dough by combining milk with yeast, sugar, egg white, vegetable oil, salt, and flour. Then, once it has risen until it is doubled in size, it gets divided into balls before being stuffed with mashed potatoes and cheese. Finally, after rising, it gets baked in the oven until golden brown. The resulting focaccia is so tender and delicious, and perfect served warm from the oven.
What is Potato Focaccia?
Potato focaccia is bread that is made from a yeast-based dough and has a filling of mashed potatoes and cheese. Focaccia is typically flatter than traditional loaves of bread, and it usually has a spongy and fluffy texture.
This type of bread originated in Italy and the way it is made depends on the particular region it is made in. For example, some versions are sweet with toppings of honey, sugar, raisins, and/or nuts, whereas other versions include garnishes of rosemary or tomatoes. While this version is a little different with its filling of potatoes, it is so delicious and has the most wonderful texture.
Pro Tips
- Make sure your yeast is still viable before you use it in this recipe. To test it, you can place a small amount of it in warm water to see if it dissolves and foams.
- This recipe is a great place to use up leftover mashed potatoes that you have in the fridge.
- Make sure you knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. You will know it has been kneaded enough when the dough bounces back quickly when you press it with a finger. The dough should also be quite stretchy.
- Use whatever type of meltable cheese you prefer such as cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss cheese, and more.
What to Serve with Potato Focaccia?
This potato focaccia can be served as a side with any meal containing roasted or grilled meat and salad. However, it also makes a wonderful sandwich bread with fillings of meat, cheese, and arugula.
Why Isn’t My Dough Rising?
If you find that your dough isn’t rising, it may be that your kitchen is a little cool. In this case, consider moving your dough to a warmer location to help it rise more quickly. Another issue may be the freshness of your yeast. Before starting your recipe, make sure your yeast is still viable or else your bread baking may be unsuccessful.
What Type of Potatoes Should I Use?
Any potatoes that you typically use for mashing would work well in this recipe, such as russet potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes. This will ensure that your mashed potatoes have a creamy texture.
Can I Make Potato Focaccia Without Cheese?
Yes, while the cheese offers delicious flavor to the mashed potato filling, you can omit it if you are looking to eat dairy-free. Alternatively, you could add some nutritional yeast to the mashed potato mixture if you would like to still have a cheesy flavor in your focaccia.
How to Store Cheesy Potato Stuffed Focaccia
This potato focaccia is best served the day it is made, but if you have some left over, you can store it in a sealed bag or container in the fridge until you are ready to serve it again. It should stay fresh for up to 3 days, and would be wonderful re-warmed in the oven before you serve it.
Ingredients
How to Make Cheesy Potato Stuffed Focaccia
Step 1: In a bowl, mix the milk with the yeast, sugar, salt, egg white, vegetable oil, and flour, and knead it until a smooth dough forms. Cover it with plastic wrap and allow it to sit until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
Step 1: In a bowl, mix the milk with the yeast, sugar, salt, egg white, vegetable oil, and flour, and knead it until a smooth dough forms. Cover it with plastic wrap and allow it to sit until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
Step 2: Transfer the potatoes to a bowl and use a potato masher to mash them. Stir the cheese into the potatoes until combined. Divide the mashed potato mixture into balls.
Step 2: Transfer the potatoes to a bowl and use a potato masher to mash them. Stir the cheese into the potatoes until combined. Divide the mashed potato mixture into balls.
Step 3: Divide the dough into three portions. Flatten each portion into a disk, top each with a mashed potato ball, and wrap the dough around them to seal.
Step 3: Divide the dough into three portions. Flatten each portion into a disk, top each with a mashed potato ball, and wrap the dough around them to seal.
Step 4: Flatten each dough ball into a disk. Cover them and set them aside to rise for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Flatten each dough ball into a disk. Cover them and set them aside to rise for 20 minutes.
Step 5: In a bowl, mix the egg yolk with the milk. Brush the mixture on the focaccia.
Step 5: In a bowl, mix the egg yolk with the milk. Brush the mixture on the focaccia.
Step 6: Press the bread with your fingers.
Step 6: Press the bread with your fingers.
Step 7: Sprinkle them with sesame seeds. Bake them on a baking sheet in a 360 F/180 C oven for 30 minutes.
Step 7: Sprinkle them with sesame seeds. Bake them on a baking sheet in a 360 F/180 C oven for 30 minutes.
Step 8: Serve the bread immediately!
Step 8: Serve the bread immediately!
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