Berry Focaccia with Mascarpone Cheese Recipe(Italian bread topped with mixed berries and served with Sweetened Mascarpone Cheese)

Madhuli Ajay

May 3, 2021

629 Ratings

Time:Prep: 15 M|Cook: 2h 30m|Total: 2h 45min

Makes:4 Servings

Meal:Side Dish

Cuisine:Italian Recipes

Focaccia is an Italian bread usually seasoned with Olive oil and herbs. Rustic and quite simple to make, homemade Focaccia is a great bread to bake even if you are a novice bread baker. It is also a very versatile bread and can be easily adapted to suit your taste.

Classically Focaccia is topped with Rosemary, Olives, tomatoes, onions. This sweet-sour version Berry Focaccia with Mascarpone Cheese Recipe, with fresh seasonal Berries (like Strawberries, Cape gooseberries, Blueberries) is a crowd pleaser. Substituting half of the all purpose flour (Maida) with whole wheat flour (Atta) considerably increases the health quotient, without altering the taste. Served with sweetened Mascarpone cheese or drizzled with honey,this Berry Focaccia doubles up as a dessert !

Serve Berry Focaccia With Sweetened Mascarpone Cheese during tea time with a hot cup of Masala Chai or Coffee. You can even pack it for your kids snack box.

You can try other Focaccia recipes like Cinnamon Sugar Focaccia Bread Recipe, Focaccia Bread with Cherry Tomatoes, Basil Pesto and Goat cheese, Whole Wheat Rosemary Focaccia Bread.

Did you know: Little berries are full of antioxidants which help improve skin and hair health. In addition to the antioxidants, berries are “juicy foods,” which means they contain mostly water. Juicy foods are great for losing weight because they fill you up quickly. Fiber aids in weight loss and also help in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.

Serve Berry Focaccia With Sweetened Mascarpone Cheese during tea time with a hot cup of Masala Chai or Coffee. You can even pack it for your kids snack box.

You can try other Focaccia recipes like Cinnamon Sugar Focaccia Bread Recipe, Focaccia Bread with Cherry Tomatoes, Basil Pesto and Goat cheese, Whole Wheat Rosemary Focaccia Bread.

Ingredients

for the dough

2 Whole Wheat Flour

2 All Purpose Flour (Maida)

2-1/2 Active dry yeast

2 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 Salt

2 Honey

6 Sage, chopped (you can alternatively use 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary)

2 Water, lukewarm

for the topping

1-1/2 Mixed berries, (like Strawberries, Blueberries, Cape Gooseberries, Raspberries, Blackberries)

3 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

for sweetened Mascarpone Cheese

1 Mascarpone Cheese

2 Honey

1 Orange Zest (Rind), or lime zest

Instructions for Berry Focaccia with Mascarpone Cheese Recipe(Italian bread topped with mixed berries and served with Sweetened Mascarpone Cheese)

to prepare the dough

To begin making the Berry Focaccia With Sweetened Mascarpone Cheese Recipe, take a large mixing bowl. Mix the whole wheat and all purpose flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Blend them together briefly. Stir in the chopped sage (or rosemary) and add olive oil. Alternatively you can use a food processor or stand mixer to mix. Using a food processor or stand mixer saves a lot of time and bringing together the dove is easier.

To activate the yeast, take 1 cup lukewarm water. Add sugar (or honey) to it and stir. Sprinkle the yeast over the water-sugar mixture and allow it to get frothy about 3-4 minutes. Before you proceed further, check the activity of your instant yeast, by 'proofing' it to make sure it will help rise the dough. Follow the instructions on your yeast packet to proof the exact yeast reaction.

If using a food processor/stand mixer; with the food processor/stand mixer running on low speed, gradually pour the yeast mixture into the processor over the flour.Slowly add in more water (as required) and allow the flour to form a soft dough within the bowl of the processor/mixer.

If using a mixing bowl, add the frothy yeast mixture to the flour and begin to knead with your hands to get a soft and pliable dove.Take care not to add too much water or you will have a sticky unmanageable dough.

Place the dough on a well floured rolling surface and knead again for 8-10 minutes. Knead the dough very well, until it is smooth and elastic. (If using the stand mixer, knead on medium speed using the dough hook)

Transfer the formed dough to a lightly greased bowl, turning once to coat all over. Cover with a wet kitchen towel or plastic wrap and set it aside in a warm place for about 1-1 1/2 hours until it has risen and doubled in size.

to prepare the berries

Meanwhile cut the larger berries like strawberries and Cape gooseberries in halves and keep aside. You can use the smaller berries as they are. You can now proceed to make the sweetened mascrapone cheese.

to prepare the sweetened mascrapone cheese

To make the sweetened mascarpone Cheese,Whisk together all the ingredients listed under 'for sweetened mascarpone cheese.

to bake the focaccia

Once the dough has doubled, divide it into 2 parts (if making two breads). You can make two round or 2 square breads or one big rectangular bread. Use two 8-9 inch shallow cake pans.

Place the dough on the well oiled pans/baking sheets.Evenly spread the dough.Cover with oiled cling film or a wet kitchen towel and leave to rise for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile preheat the oven to 200 deg C. Using your finger tips, make deep dimples all over the dough.Place the berries on top of the dough and press lightly.Drizzle the olive oil all over and sprinkle the granulated sugar.

Bake in the pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes, till the crust turns golden and the berry juice is bursting out.Turn off the oven and Cool on a wire rack and garnish with more Sage or Rosemary.

Serve Berry Focaccia With Sweetened Mascarpone Cheese during tea time with a hot cup of Masala Chai or Coffee. You can even pack it for your kids snack box.