Pissaladière is a classic dish in Provence

Pissaladière is a classic dish in Provence ( South east France). Its thin pizza-like crust is piled high with caramelized onions, then topped with anchovies ( Optional), olives, and fresh herbs.

Ingredients

Topping
1/4 cup butter
3 big  onions thinly sliced
6 fresh thyme sprigs
4 fresh rosemary sprigs
2 bay leaves
6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Salt to taste

For the base
1 cup warm water
1 tbsp dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
3cups (or more) all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
20 drained anchovy fillets ( optional)
20  black olives pitted
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

Method

For topping:
Preheat oven to 180 degress. Place butter on heavy large  baking sheet; place in oven until butter melts, about 5 minutes. Spread half of onions on baking sheet; top with 3 thyme sprigs, 2 rosemary sprigs and 1 bay leaf. Sprinkle with salt. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons oil. Top with remaining onions, 3 thyme sprigs, 2 rosemary sprigs, and 1 bay leaf. Sprinkle with salt. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons oil (onion layer will be thick but will settle during baking). Bake until onions are very tender and golden, stirring and turning every 30 minutes, about 2 hours total. Cool. Discard herb sprigs and bay leaves. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before using.)

For base:
Pour 1 cup warm water into small bowl; sprinkle yeast and sugar over. Stir to blend. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
Blend 2 3/4 cups flour and salt in processor. Add yeast mixture and 2 tablespoons oil; process until dough clumps together, adding more flour by tablespoonfuls if dough is sticky. Process until shiny ball forms, about 1 minute. Turn dough out onto floured work surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Coat large bowl with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add dough to bowl; turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel. Let rise in warm area until doubled in volume, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down dough; cover and let rise until puffed and almost doubled, about 1 hour.

Grease the baking sheet with oil. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface  rectangle shape and to the size of the tray. Transfer to prepared baking sheet; press edges of dough up along sides and corners of sheet. Cover with dry kitchen towel; let rise until slightly puffed, 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Spread onions over top of dough. Arrange anchovies ( optional ) and olives on top. Bake until the base
is golden, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with thyme. Cut into 3-inch squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.