Focaccia bread is one of the Italian bread I ask for when at a restaurant, a little crispy from the outside with tender and fluffy texture from the inside, it tastes awesome with shredded parmesan and olive oil. You can add bacon, caramelized onion, or cheese to focaccia bread but today we will make a simple version with rosemary. Watch the video tutorial below!
What is Focaccia?
Focaccia is a flat Italian bread, the dough is similar to pizza dough and is also called (Pizza Bianca ) which means white pizza, but it has a generous amount of olive oil. It is crispy from the outside and can be a side dish dipped in oil mixed with balsamic vinegar or can be a sandwich bread.
Ingredients for Focaccia Bread
All-purpose flour - In this recipe, I have only used all-purpose flour, but some mix between all-purpose and bread flour.
Salt.
Active dry yeast - You can use any yeast used for baking in this recipe, keep in mind some yeasts need proofing.
Sugar.
Olive oil - Do not use the light version.
Water.
How to make focaccia bread?
Focaccia bread is crispy from the outside and soft from the inside. One of the easiest bread to make and is ridiculously delicious. If you love focaccia bread, you will enjoy my Soft Garlic Knots with Parmesan.
- To make crispy and mouth-watering focaccia bread, you will need, all-purpose flour, salt, yeast (I have used fast active yeast), water, sugar, and olive oil.
- I like to make sure that the yeast is still alive and kicking. So, in a small bowl, I add the water, sugar, and yeast, mix the ingredients all up, and cover the bowl. I keep the bowl in a warm place for ten minutes and then later check if there is a froth or thick foam, that’s an indication that the yeast is good, and the dough will rise.
- In a different bowl, I add the flour and salt and gradually add the wet ingredients. Kneading the dough until it’s smooth for around five minutes or six and then add the oil and knead for two more minutes.
- The dough should be smooth and not stick to your hand. Cover the dough until it doubles in size, and that takes an hour and a half to two hours.
How to bake the perfect Focaccia bread?
To bake good bread, you must bring the oven to the right temperature. In today’s recipe, you have to preheat the oven to 374F/190C. If your oven doesn’t prompt you when it reaches the desired temperature, then use the oven after fifteen minutes of turning it on, that’s usually a good time for an oven to preheat.
Now that the dough has risen, you have two options, either spread the dough to a quarter of an inch high to get crispy focaccia or to half an inch to get a crispy layer from the outside with tender crumbs inside.
Cover and let the dough rise again for 30 minutes. Use your fingers to dimple the dough. drizzle the dough with olive oil and sprinkle it with flake sea salt and dry or fresh rosemary.
Bake the focaccia for 12 to 13 minutes or until golden brown in color. While warm brush with more olive oil if you wish and then serve.
How to store focaccia bread?
Wrap the focaccia bread in plastic wrap and then with aluminum foil and place it in the fridge for two days. You can also place the wrapped focaccia in the freezer for a month.
When using frozen focaccia, it is best to allow it to come to room temperature and then heat it in the oven for a few minutes.
How to serve homemade focaccia bread?
- You can toast the slices of focaccia bread and use it to enjoy your favorite dips.
- Cut the focaccia into cubes and toast it to use in salads.
- Focaccia is perfect when served with stews and soups.
- Add pizza toppings over the focaccia bread and bake for a few. Or use the dough as a pizza dough in your pizza recipes.
- This bread makes a great sandwich bread, make a delicious sandwich with a mixture of cheese and cold cut meat tastes great.
- In olive oil saute red onion with bell peppers and chives and serve it with slices of focaccia bread at parties.
Focaccia recipe variations
- Before baking the focaccia bread, distribute slices of olives over the dough.
- Sprinkle the top of the dough with chopped fresh herbs or dried herbs before baking it.
- Distribute cherry tomatoes that were cut in halves on the dough and then sprinkle parmesan cheese on top and then bake.
- A mixture of kosher salt and black pepper sprinkled over the dough brings out the amazing flavor.
- A popular variation is the rosemary focaccia bread.
More bread recipes you will like
Homemade Easy Focaccia Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon active dry yeast
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup warm water you may need less
THE TOPPING
- Flake sea salt
- 1 tablespoon rosemary fresh or dry
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add the water, sugar, and yeast, stir well, and then cover for ten minutes. After ten minutes if the mixture formed a froth then go ahead with the next step. If you are using instant active yeast you don't need to let it proof.
- In a different bowl, add the flour and the salt, then gradually add the yeast mixture and knead.
- Knead for 5 minutes, when the dough is smooth and not sticky, add the olive oil and knead for three more minutes. Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for an hour and a half or until it is double in size. You can also use a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment.
- Punch the dough and knead for 1 minute.
- Pat or roll the dough into a triangle, round, or square shape, place it on a lightly greased baking sheet. Make the dough a quarter of an inch high if you want crispy focaccia, or make it ½ an inch high for thicker focaccia bread.
- Cover the dough and let it rise again for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 374F/190C.
- Using your fingertips make a few dimples on the surface of the dough.
- Brush the dough with olive oil. Sprinkle with flake sea salt and rosemary.
- Bake the focaccia bread for 12 to 13 minutes on the middle rack, until it is golden in color and has reached your desired crispness. If you want the focaccia to be thick and fluffy, bake in a 6" or 7-inch pan.
Video
Notes
- You can use olive oil infused with garlic to give this focaccia bread recipe more flavor.
- A great snack can be made using focaccia by toasting it and spreading roasted garlic and parmesan on top. You can prepare the dough a night ahead.
- Place the dough in a large container and cover tightly then refrigerate.
- The dough will rise slowly while in the fridge.
- When about to bake the dough, take it out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature first.
- Knead the dough for a minute, and it will be ready for the next rise.
- In the recipe video, I have added the salt at the end of the kneading process, but you can mix it with flour as per the written recipe.
- Double or triple the recipe and use a sheet pan for baking it.
- You can use parchment paper to make the cleaning easy.
Alyssa
This looks like perfect focaccia. This is by far one of my favorite breads!
Munatycooking
It's my favorite, glad you liked the pics!
Sandra M.
You did such a great job Muna! I love focaccia and yours look incredible!
My mouth is watering just by looking at it!!!
Tina (PinayInTexas)
Gorgeous focaccia, Muna! This is one thing I've wanted to try making for a long time, but I still haven't got the chance. Thanks for the reminder of how delicious it is! Your photos are stunning!
Munatycooking
Thanks guys, I appreciate your kind words!
Magic of Spice
This has always been a favorite bread...looks fantastic!
Reem | Simply Reem
Looks Fabulous...
Focaccia has always been my favorite....
You did a great job.
Munatycooking
Thanks, I'm still working on my photography skill 🙂 believe me this bread looks even better than the picture.
Shu Han
looks brilliant munaty! very nice series on bread (:
Munatycooking
Thanks Shu, I want to add more bread recipes, I love baking so much 🙂
Rosa's Yummy Yums
Beautiful! This focaccia is perfect.
Cheers,
Rosa
Lori Brown
No luck with this recipe! One cup of flour is not enuf. I just kept adding til I got the right consistency. Also baking temp was too low. My bread never did brown. It’s not a keeper for me!
munatycooking
Hi Lori, This recipe is for a small size Focaccia bread, hence I have mentioned that it can be baked in a 6-inch pan. You can simply double the ingredients for a bigger Focaccia bread! Usually, the bread doesn't brown because the heat in the oven is not evenly distributed, you can turn off the oven and turn on the broiler 3 minutes before the baking time is up to help the bread brown evenly. Hope this helped.
Aaron
I’m just curious why the video shows the steps almost completely backwards off what the written recipe says to do?
munatycooking
Hi Aaron! The result will be the same but I had some readers complaining about the dough not rising and I know that the salt is the culprit, so in the video, I added the salt later while kneading, but if you following the written recipe and the video will result in a delicious Focaccia bread 🙂
Georgette
Easy and delicious recipe. Does not make enough for my family so will double the recipe next time.
Rakeeba Latief
Love all your recipes, my 13 year old daughter always follow your recipes.
munatycooking
Wow! Thanks for making my day, I'm happy that your family enjoyed my recipes 🙂
Beth
Just made this recipe for the third time and it turned out great. I have shared as a tear off with dipping oil twice. Going to use with soup today. Nice job !
munatycooking
Hi Beth, thanks for trying the recipe. I'm glad that you have enjoyed it 🙂
Azubike Eze
The Focaccia bread looks good to taste. You really described the recipe in a straightforward manner.
Aleeza Denise
This looks simple and easy to do. I haven’t tried baking bread before but this recipe I’d definitely consider making plus all the ingredients are available in the kitchen except for the active dry yeast and rosemary. Can I use fresh oregano leaves as substitute for the rosemary?
munatycooking
Hi Aleeza! You can use oregano and the bread will still taste good. Let me know how you like it 🙂
Clarice
Wow! This is timely. I have always wanted to make my focaccia bread and here I stumbled upon your post. Thank you for sharing this recipe. Can't wait to try making one. Wish me luck. 🙂
munatycooking
I hope you enjoy it as much as we did, and if you have any suggestions, I would like to hear it 🙂
Viano
It looks so fresh and yummy. I like how it turned out. It's definitely worth the try.
munatycooking
Focaccia is amazing, at times I use the dough when making pizza. I hope you give it a try!
Khushboo
It looks so nice to eat. I have never tried this bread but now I might fr your recipe of this bread soon.
munatycooking
Hi Khushboo, you should give it a try! This recipe is for a small size bread, so you can practice making it 🙂
Kemi
Totally addicted to focaccia bread and always order copious amounts at any Italian restaurant. The herbs and oil just add to its deliciousness.
munatycooking
Same here Kemi, I love focaccia and try to make different versions of it!
di hickman
Oh my goodness this looks delicious. I'm going to have to save this to try for my husband, he loves bread!
munatycooking
I'm sure he will enjoy this bread!
Monidipa
I have never made a bread at home but my neices love baking breads. And focaccia bread is one of my favourites. I will share this recipe with them.
munatycooking
Thanks Monidipa 🙂
Cheeia
Ouuu thanks for sharing. I will have to try this.
Roobye
Made this tonight. Loved the ease of the ingredients. For my first time making bread it came out pretty good, not as brown as I would have hoped. But will be trying it again. Thank you so much'
munatycooking
You are welcome Roobye, glad you liked baking this focaccia bread!
Christopher Bossano
Tried focaccia when I was in Pisa. Never cooked at home. Thanks for the recipe. I will definitely try!
Lexi
The ingredients are easy to follow, but I have realize that one cup of flour was not enough. It was so sticky that it did not come into a smooth texture. I actually had to double the flour. But after the kneading with the flour increased, and adding the oil it seem to be the right consistency. I hope that it rises! I will keep you updated on how it turned out.
munatycooking
Hi Lexi, when kneading it's best to add the liquids gradually while kneading since every brand of flour requires more or less liquid. This besides kneading the dough for a longer time (7 to 10 minutes) will turn it into a smooth dough. Adding more flour and oil will result in a dense bread. I hope this helped!
Nana
Made this with dinner tonight and it was wonderful! I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfect! I did not have rosemary, so I sprinkled an Italian Herb mixture on top. Perfect! Thank you!
munatycooking
Thank you for trying the recipe and for your feedback Nana, I'm glad that you have enjoyed it 🙂
Maria
I have already tried this recipe 3 times.... delicious each time.. thanks so much for posting. I was wondering, could I use this recipe as a pizza dough? I thought of doubling the ingredients...what do you suggest? Thanks 😊😊
munatycooking
I do use it as a pizza dough and my family love it, go ahead and try it, I'm sure you'll enjoy the flavor 🙂
Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!
What a great way to start out the new year! I've never made focaccia at home.
munatycooking
Glad you liked it 😊
Felicity Robinson
Love how fool proof this recipe is. Turns out perfect every time 🙂
munatycooking
Thank you so much for the feedback 😊