A yeast-containing dough that is used to form a leavened dough product having a desired degree of leavening is initially formed as two separate dough subcomponents that, when combined, leavens through a fermentation reaction process to form a dough having the desired degree of leavening. The first dough subcomponent includes a leavening activator, flour, salt and water, while the second dough component includes a biological leavening agent, flour, and water. When combined, the leavening agent reacts in the presence of the biological leavening activator through a fermentation process to form the dough having a desired degree of leavening, which can then be heated to a temperature exceeding a viability temperature of the leavening activator to terminate the fermentation process and form the leavened dough product. The dough can also be combined with at least one non-dough component to form the leavened dough product.

A yeast-containing dough that is used to form a leavened dough product having a desired degree of leavening is initially formed as two separate dough subcomponents that, when combined, leavens through a fermentation reaction process to form a dough having the desired degree of leavening. The first dough subcomponent includes a leavening activator, flour, salt and water, while the second dough component includes a biological leavening agent, flour, and water. When combined, the leavening agent reacts in the presence of the biological leavening activator through a fermentation process to form the dough having a desired degree of leavening, which can then be heated to a temperature exceeding a viability temperature of the leavening activator to terminate the fermentation process and form the leavened dough product. The dough can also be combined with at least one non-dough component to form the leavened dough product.

A shelf-stable ready-to-eat packaged focaccia, is described having appearance and organoleptic qualities comparable to those of a fresh focaccia, which has a relative humidity comprised between 25 and 32%, preferably 27% and water activity (a.sub.w) comprised between 0.85 and 0.92, preferably 0.89, and blind holes on its surface having depth of at least 50% of the thickness of the focaccia. A process for the production of a ready-to-eat shelf-stable packaged focaccia is also described which comprises the steps of: a) preparing a dough for focaccia comprising, by weight based on the total weight of the dough, 40-60% flour, 20-35% water, 7-16% vegetable oils and/or fats and/or fractions thereof, of which 1-6% extra virgin olive oil, 0.5-4% yeast, 0.1-3% salt, 0-15% at least one organoleptically characterising ingredient; 0-0.1% at least one baking processing aid, 0-0.8% at least one emulsifier and 0-1.5% dietary fibres; b) extrusion of the dough thus prepared thus obtaining a plurality of sheets of extruded raw dough for focaccia, and subsequent lamination of the plurality of sheets of raw dough for focaccia thus obtaining a layer of laminated raw dough for focaccia; c) first leavening of the layer of laminated raw dough for focaccia thus obtained at a temperature comprised between 20 and 30? C.; d) shaping of the layer of leavened raw dough for focaccia thus obtained forming a plurality of blind holes on the surface of the dough and filling of the holes with a saline solution; e) second leavening of the raw dough thus obtained at a temperature comprised between 30 and 37? C.; f) oiling of the upper surface of the dough thus obtained with filling with the oil of said holes; g) baking of the raw dough thus obtained in an oven at a temperature comprised between 210 and 240? C.; and h) packaging of the focaccia thus obtained.

A multi-layered food product comprises a filling encapsulated by a substantially baked yeast-leavened dough. The encapsulated filling is further encapsulated by a substantially baked chemically-leavened batter layer.

A multi-layered food product comprises a filling encapsulated by a substantially baked yeast-leavened dough. The encapsulated filling is further encapsulated by a substantially baked chemically-leavened batter layer.

The invention is directed to a process for the preparation of an encased snack comprising in this order the steps of (1) providing crumb material, (2) forming the crumb material under pressure to produce a shell, (3) introducing a filling into the shell, (4) forming a cover of crumb material on the filling in the shell under pressure, and (5) optionally baking the thus formed assembly. The invention is also directed to the encased snack obtainable by the process and to a mold comprising a lower die and first and second upper dies for use in the process.

The invention is directed to a process for the preparation of an encased snack comprising in this order the steps of (1) providing crumb material, (2) forming the crumb material under pressure to produce a shell, (3) introducing a filling into the shell, (4) forming a cover of crumb material on the filling in the shell under pressure, and (5) optionally baking the thus formed assembly. The invention is also directed to the encased snack obtainable by the process and to a mold comprising a lower die and first and second upper dies for use in the process.

A food material processing mechanism, a food material processing method and a food manufacturing method which enable highly accurate bending of a sheet-shaped flexible food material such as a skin are provided. A food material processing mechanism includes a conveyance unit and a processing unit. A conveyance unit conveys a sheet-shaped flexible food material in a conveyance direction. A processing unit forms a bending reference portion being a reference portion for bending, in the flexible food material being conveyed by the conveyance unit. The processing unit includes a reference formation unit and a pressing unit. The reference formation unit locally applies a force to the flexible food material to form the bending reference portion. The pressing unit presses the flexible food material against the conveyance unit at least temporarily while the reference formation unit forms the bending reference portion in the flexible food material.

A food material processing mechanism, a food material processing method and a food manufacturing method which enable highly accurate bending of a sheet-shaped flexible food material such as a skin are provided. A food material processing mechanism includes a conveyance unit and a processing unit. A conveyance unit conveys a sheet-shaped flexible food material in a conveyance direction. A processing unit forms a bending reference portion being a reference portion for bending, in the flexible food material being conveyed by the conveyance unit. The processing unit includes a reference formation unit and a pressing unit. The reference formation unit locally applies a force to the flexible food material to form the bending reference portion. The pressing unit presses the flexible food material against the conveyance unit at least temporarily while the reference formation unit forms the bending reference portion in the flexible food material.

This disclosure provides a method for making a self-supporting filled food product, wherein at least one food item is wrapped in a layer of dough, after which the layer of dough is cooked so that the layer of dough gains a firmness such that the self-supporting filled food product is obtained in which a first dough portion of the layer of dough substantially fully covers the at least one food item, wherein the layer of dough is shaped in such a way before cooking that after cooking, a second dough portion of the layer of dough extends from the first dough portion away from the at least one food item so as to form a handle for holding the cooked filled food product.