Italian Focaccia Bread
If you have never had Italian Focaccia bread, you definitely need to try this recipe. This bread is super easy to make and requires just a few simple ingredients. You’ll need bread flour, water, yeast, olive oil, sugar (or honey), garlic, chopped chives, coarse salt, and Parmesan cheese, you can create your very own flavorful focaccia bread right at home.
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What Is Italian Focaccia Bread?
Focaccia dough is made from basic ingredients, flour, water, yeast, salt, and olive oil. It often includes additional seasonings like rosemary, thyme, garlic, or other herbs and spices.
Italian Focaccia Bread has a soft, tender crumb with a slightly crispy crust. The little dimples on the surface are created by pressing the dough with your fingers before baking. These indentations help to trap olive oil and seasonings, giving the bread a unique texture and flavor.
Other Topping Ideas For Focaccia
The classic version of Italian Focaccia Bread is flavored with olive oil, salt, and rosemary, it can be customized with various toppings. Common additions include sliced olives, onions, cherry tomatoes, grated Parmesan cheese, or even more creative options like caramelized onions, roasted garlic, or fresh herbs.
1. Rosemary and Sea Salt Focaccia
- Sprinkle fresh rosemary leaves and coarse sea salt on top before baking for a classic Italian flavor.
2. Tomato and Basil Focaccia
- Add sliced tomatoes and fresh basil leaves before drizzling with olive oil and baking.
3. Olive and Red Onion Focaccia
- Spread pitted black olives and thinly sliced red onions on the dough before baking.
4. Roasted Vegetable Focaccia
- Roast your favorite vegetables, such as bell peppers or zucchini, and place them on top of the dough with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese before baking.
Different Ways To Serve
Enjoy this homemade Focaccia Bread on its own or dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It also makes a great sandwich bread or a tasty accompaniment to soups, salads and pasta dishes. You can even have it with your eggs at breakfast!
Ingredients
bread flour or all – purpose flour, bread flour will give you a chewier bread
water
active dry yeast or rapid rise yeast (I have used both in this recipe)
olive oil
sugar or honey
garlic
chopped chives
flaky sea salt
parmesan cheese
How To Make Focaccia Bread
Here’s a step by step guide to making your own delicious focaccia bread:
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, add warm water, yeast and honey. Let sit for a few minutes until yeast is completely dissolved. Add the flour, 1/4 cup olive oil, chives, garlic and salt and turn mixer on low until flour is fully incorporated. Increase speed to medium and knead the dough for 8 minutes, until the dough comes together and is smooth and elastic and wrapped around dough hook. Remove dough to a lightly greased mixing bowl, drizzle with about 1 Tbsp olive oil and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let rise for about 1 1/2 hours or until it doubled in size.
Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in bottom of a 15-inch pizza stone (my personal preference) or 9 x 13 quarter sheet pan or baking dish. Place dough on prepared pan of choice and pat the dough down to fit the pan to the edges, trying to maintain an even thickness. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise an additional 30 minutes.
Lightly oil your hands and with your fingers poke dimples all over the surface of the dough until you can feel the bottom of the pan-but don’t rip the dough. Make dimples all over the bread. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt.
Baking
Bake for 20 – 25 minutes in a preheated 450 ℉ oven on the lower rack.
Remove the Italian Foccacia Bread from the oven and shred parmesan cheese on top and add any additional toppings you like. Slice the bread into squares or rectangles or triangles making it easy to share with family and friends. It can be served warm or at room temperature, and it pairs perfectly with soups, salads, or enjoyed on its own as a tasty snack alongside a dipping bowl full of olive oil.
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Italian Focaccia Bread
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cup lukewarm water 110-110 degrees Fahrenheit
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast 1 packet
- 2 tsp honey you can substitute sugar
- 3 1/2 cups bread flour or all – purpose flour
- 1/4 cup olive oil and additional for drizzling
- 2 tsp flaky sea salt or course salt and additional for topping
- 2 Tbsp fresh chives or 2 tsp dried chives and additional for topping
- 4 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, add the lukewarm water, yeast and honey. Let sit for a few minutes until yeast is completely dissolved.
- Add the flour, 1/4 cup olive oil, chives, garlic and salt and turn mixer on low until flour is fully incorporated. Increase speed to medium and knead the dough for 8 minutes, until the dough comes together and is smooth and elastic and wrapped around dough hook.
- Remove dough to a lightly greased large bowl, drizzle with about 1 Tbsp olive oil and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let rise for about 1 1/2 hours or until it doubled in size.
- Drizzle about 2 Tbsp of olive oil in bottom of a 15-inch pizza stone or 9 x 13 quarter sheet pan or baking dish. Place dough on pan of choice and pat the dough down to fit the pan to the edges, trying to maintain an even thickness. Cover with a towel and let rise an additional 30 minutes.
- Lightly oil your hands and with your fingers poke dimples until you can feel the bottom of the pan-but don't rip the dough. Make dimples all over the bread. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt.
- Bake for 20 – 25 minutes in a preheated 450 ℉ oven on the lower rack.
- Remove from oven and top with freshly grated parmesan and fresh chives.Slice into wedges or squares and serve warm or at room temperature.