Turmeric Chia Focaccia

Made with two superfoods, this focaccia is a tasty and healthy treat. Turmeric and chia give the bread an earthy taste, and turmeric contains anti-inflammatory compounds like curcumin while chia seeds have protein, fiber, and omega-3s. In lieu of yeast, I use my sourdough starter which lends a refreshing tang against the earthiness of the turmeric and chia.

My favorite way of eating this bread is as a snack or light meal. Split a slice in half horizontally and drizzle on some balsamic vinegar. Then, add salad greens or arugula and pile on some sliced hard cheese. From one bite, you can understand how the flavors balance out. The richness of the cheese is cut by the refreshing salad greens and the acidic vinegar. All the while, the earthiness of the bread provides a canvas upon which these flavors intermingle.

The recipe is quite simple. I use a 3:2 flour-water ratio. As a result, the dough is a bit sticky to work with, and you will find a slap-and-fold kneading method does the trick.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 100g fed sourdough starter
• 350g high-gluten flour
• 200g water
• 10g salt
• 10g turmeric
• 10g olive oil
• 2-3 tbsp chia seeds (+ water to form a gel)

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, add the flour and sourdough starter. In a separate bowl, mix together the chia seeds and water to form the chia seed gel.
2. Add the water, olive oil, salt, and turmeric. Then, begin to mix; the goal is to get things incorporated.
3. Once a cohesive dough takes shape, let it rest for up to 30 minutes.
4. Turn out the dough onto a surface and add the chia seed gel. Then, begin folding in the chia seeds.
5. Using the slap-and-fold method (or whatever you prefer), knead the dough for 5-10 minutes, ideally until a smooth surface forms.
6. Transfer the dough into a bowl and drizzle some olive oil on top. Cover the bowl so that no moisture can escape and place it into a warm area to rise. This process may take up to 2 hours, depending on the vigor of your starter.
7. Once the dough has doubled in size, transfer it to a round or square baking pan. Using your fingers, press the dough down in the pan to spread it out and add dimples.
8. Before going into the oven, feel free to drizzle some olive oil on top. Bake at 350-75 degrees fahrenheit for 30-40 minutes. Let cool before slicing in. Enjoy!

Note: turmeric stains your hands, but it is washable.

Note 2: feel free to reduce the amount of turmeric and chia seeds used.

Credit: https://youtube.com/shorts/vDA6uhU-uaY?feature=shared