Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread Recipe

Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread Recipe

This easy homemade focaccia bread recipe brings a taste of Italy right to your kitchen. With a preparation time of 2.5 hours (mostly hands-off for rising) and 25 minutes of baking, you'll have a delicious, crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside flatbread.The recipe uses simple ingredients like bread flour, yeast, olive oil, and rosemary to create an authentic Italian side dish or appetizer.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups 500g bread flour or all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons 7g active dry yeast or instant yeast
  • 2 teaspoons 10g salt
  • 1 3/4 cups 415ml warm water
  • 1/4 cup 60ml extra virgin olive oil

    plus extra for drizzling

  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
  • Coarse sea salt

    for sprinkling

Directions

  1. 1

    In a large bowl, combine 4 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 2 1/4 teaspoons of yeast. Add 1 3/4 cups of warm water and 1/4 cup of olive oil. Mix until a shaggy dough forms, then knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

  2. 2

    Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.

  3. 3

    Cover the dough and let it rise again for about 30 minutes.

  4. 4

    Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Drizzle the focaccia generously with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and rosemary. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread Recipe

Easy Homemade Focaccia Bread Recipe

4.7(19)

Similar Recipes

Simple Sourdough Focaccia

Simple Sourdough Focaccia

Adapted from my favorite yeasted, slow-rise focaccia recipe — overnight refrigerator focaccia — this recipe replaces the yeast with a sourdough starter. UPDATE: Video guidance is here! Watch up above or click the link below in the recipe card.  What you need to make this recipe...: ...a sourdough starter. I bought mine from Breadtopia. It was easy to activate. There are no instructions on the package itself; follow the instructions on the video here. ...time. Once your starter is ready to go, this recipe requires an initial 4- 18 hour rise, followed by a second 4- to 6-hour second rise. After the initial rise (depending on the time of year and temperature of your kitchen), you can deflate the dough, and stick it in the fridge for 8 to 10 hours (maybe longer), which might help you regarding your schedule. Keep in mind, when you remove the dough from the fridge and transfer it to a pan, it will still need to rise for another 5- to 6- hours. ...water. Apparently, chlorine in water can adversely affect sourdough. Leaving water at room temperature for 24 hours will allow most of the chlorine to escape.When I am in the habit of making sourdough bread, I fill a large pitcher with water and leave it out at room temperature. I use this for my sourdough breads and starter. Truth be told, I've used water straight from the tap and have not noticed a difference. Water quantity: Depending on where you live and the time of year, you may need to cut the water back. If you live in a humid environment, for instance, I would suggest starting with 430 g water. If you are not using bread flour, you also may need to cut the water back a bit. Timing: The more I make sourdough, the more I realize so much depends on the time of year and the temperature of my kitchen. In the summer, because it is so warm, the first rise (bulk fermentation) takes between 4 - 6 hours; in the winter the first rise takes 12 - 18 hours. The key with this recipe is to make sure the first rise doesn't go too long — you want the dough to nearly double. A straight sided vessel  (as opposed to a bowl) makes gauging the first rise easier. (Note: If your dough rises above double, don't despair ... recently my dough tripled in volume during an overnight rise, and the resulting focaccia was still delicious, light, airy, etc.) A few thoughts: If you are making this focaccia in the summer (northern hemisphere), use 50 g of starter and check the dough every couple of hours. If you are making this in the winter, use 100 g of starter, and plan for a long first rise. Troubleshooting: If you have issues with your dough being too sticky, please read this post: Why is my sourdough so sticky? The 4 common mistakes. Flour choice:  I've been using King Arthur Flour's special patent flour — bought a 50-lb. bag of it at Restaurant Depot. Its protein content, 12.7%, is the same as the protein content of its bread flour. I also have used all-purpose flour (11.7%) with success, but I recommend bread flour, which seems to be more reliable for people especially those living in humid climates. If you only have ap flour on hand, you may consider reducing the water a bit — bread flour absorbs slightly more liquid than all-purpose flour.

24.4 hours

Ratings & Reviews

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Based on 19 ratings

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4.7(19 reviews)
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About this Recipe

Craving the warm, aromatic embrace of freshly baked bread that transports you straight to an Italian bakery? This easy homemade focaccia bread recipe makes that dream a delicious reality, bringing authentic Italian flavors right to your kitchen with minimal fuss.

This recipe shines through its elegant simplicity, utilizing common pantry staples like bread flour, yeast, olive oil, and fresh rosemary. What sets it apart is the generous, mostly hands-off rising time, allowing the dough to develop deep, complex flavors and a beautiful texture. You'll achieve that irresistible contrast of a wonderfully crispy exterior giving way to an incredibly soft, airy interior that makes focaccia so beloved.

Expect a truly delightful sensory experience. Each bite delivers the robust aroma of fresh rosemary and the fruity notes of extra virgin olive oil, balanced by a hint of coarse sea salt. This focaccia is a testament to how simple ingredients, when treated with care, can create something profoundly satisfying. It's a remarkably forgiving recipe, making it perfect for both novice and experienced bakers looking to master a classic Italian flatbread without the intimidation.

While the recipe specifies bread flour, you can easily use all-purpose flour for a slightly different, but equally delicious, crumb. Similarly, feel free to use active dry yeast or instant yeast based on what you have on hand. For a different aromatic profile, consider sprinkling with a different herb like thyme, though fresh rosemary is truly classic. You can also adjust the amount of coarse sea salt to your preference.

This focaccia is an ideal companion for nearly any meal, serving beautifully as an authentic Italian side dish to pasta or soups, or as a sophisticated appetizer dipped in quality olive oil. It's also fantastic sliced for sandwiches or simply enjoyed on its own.

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