Foccacia - plain or Red onion and Walnut flavour

1) heat  the oat or rice milk in a jug or saucepan till warm.

2) put flour in a bowl and mix in yeast, sugar and salt. Then add the warmed milk and oil. Mix with your hands or spatula to form a dough.

3) turn out the dought onto floured surface and knead for 10minutes till smooth.

4) place the dough into a large oiled bowl and cover with oiled cling film (or i just used a teatowel) and leave to rise in a warm place for 60minutes until dough has doubled in size.

5) turn dough back out onto surface and knead again quickly, then place into an oiled shallow tiin (e.g swiss roll tin of 25x35cm). stretch the dough to fit the tin.

6) cover the tin with a damp tea towel or oiled cling film and leave to rise in a warm place for 30minutes until risen half as high again.

7). If you are having it plain, just add a sprinkling of salt and some oil over the top and then cook it in a preheated oven 200c / 180c (fan), gas mark 6 for about 20-25minutes.

8) if you are adding the onion and walnut topping, gently fry the onion in 1tsp oil until soft but not browned. if you like it caramelised (as i do!) then add a tbsp brown sugar. press your fingers into the surface of the dough to make indentations and then scatter walnuts and red onion over the top. then sprinkle with salt flakes and some oil. Bake for 20-25mins in preheated oven at 200c / 180c (fan), gas mark 6.

Can be served with meals (especially Italian), on its own with lashings of dairy free marg as a snack or slice a chunk through the middle and fill it with meats and salad!