Focaccia bread? what's wrong?

Question

I tried to make focaccia bread twice and every time it turns to be hard like wood and would not rise so what's the problem

the ingredients that i use are

3 cups flower------1 1/2 cups warm water------2 tbs olive oil------1 tbs sugar------1 teas salt------1 1/2 tbs yeast

Answer 1

You have to dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup of the warm water from the recipe and the sugar before adding it to the flour mixture.  Make sure the water isn't too hot or cold otherwise the yeast will not activate.  You will see it bubble up and become "active"...it should take about 10 minutes or so.  Do that in a separate bowl and once it is foamy (active) add the rest of the water and the yeast mixture to the flour and other ingredients then knead it and it should be fine.

Answer 2

Focaccia is a sourdough, are you using a starter?

Make sure you leave it someplace warm 70-90 degrees during its rises.

The wetter the dough the faster it will rise, and if its too much like normal dough it won't ever rise.

Fold/shape it softly and try to do as little as possible to the dough.

Use SAF Instant yeast, not dry active yeast.

Let the yeast sit in the warm water until its frothing before adding it to the flour.

Like anything else, really killer bread baking takes a lot of time to learn. However, if your still not seeing any improvement after 5 or 6 tries get the Bread Baker's Apprentice or the Bread Bible, both are great books and will really teach you a lot.