Vegan Italian Garlic Focaccia Bread

[amorsalado]

Ingredients:

For the bread:

• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 1 TBSP raw cane sugar
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 3 TBSP vital wheat gluten
• 1 TBSP olive oil

For the top:

• 2 TBSP olive oil
• 2 TBSP vegan Parmesan
• 2 large cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
• 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning

Directions:

1. Combine yeast, warm water, and sugar in a large bowl. Cover with clean dish towel and let sit for ten minutes.
2. Add salt, flour, vital wheat gluten, and olive oil (1 TBSP). Mix until everything is well incorporated. Dough will be sticky.
3. Turn out onto well floured surface and knead until smooth and shiny, about five minutes.
4. Shape dough into ball and place into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover and let rise until double in size, about one hour.
5. Punch down dough and divide in half. Form each half into a ball, and place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed and lightly dusted with cornmeal.
6. Roll each ball into an eight inch circle.
7. Press fingertips into the dough to make indentions.
8. Cover dough and let rise until double in size, about 20 minutes.
9. Drizzle each loaf with 1 TBSP olive oil (I used my handy Misto oil sprayer; it makes things so much easier!). Sprinkle 1 TBSP vegan Parmesan, 1 TBSP minced garlic, and 1 tsp Italian seasoning on top of each loaf.
10. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes, until puffed and golden brown.