Garlic and Rosemary oil topping for Focaccia

Garlic and Rosemary oil topping for Focaccia

10 servings
USE ALEXANDRA COOKS RECIPE FOR BREAD.
This easy garlic and rosemary focaccia recipe may spoil you on all other bread, ever. With no special tools required, only six ingredients, and about a half-hour of active time, it will become a new mainstay in your repertoire. A final brushing of garlic and rosemary infused olive oil takes this focaccia over-the-top.

Ingredients

  • warm water

    110°f

    2 ⅓ c
  • oz. envelope instant or quick-rising yeast
    1 ¼
  • plus 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

    divided, plus more for hands

    ¾ c
  • kosher salt

    preferably diamond crystal

    4 tsp.
  • all-purpose flour

    about 21 1/4 oz.

    5 c
  • flaky sea salt

    such as maldon

  • cloves garlic

    thinly sliced

    2 large
  • finely chopped fresh rosemary
    1 tbsp.

Directions

  1. 1

    Whisk water, yeast, and 2 tablespoons oil in a large bowl until yeast is dissolved. Whisk in kosher salt. Stir in flour with a rubber spatula until a sticky dough forms, almost like a very thick batter, and no dry bits of flour remain. Scrape down sides of bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until doubled in volume, at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.

  2. 2

    Pour 1/2 cup oil into a 13-by-9-inch metal baking pan or quarter sheet pan.

  3. 3

    Oil your hands and scoop dough onto prepared pan; flip dough to completely coat in oil. Press dough into edges of pan. If dough springs back, let it rest for 10 minutes and try again. Let rise at room temperature until very soft and puffy, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

  4. 4

    Preheat oven to 450°F. Use your fingers to poke deep divots all over top of dough. Sprinkle dough evenly with flaky sea salt. Bake until puffed and golden, 25 to 30 minutes. (If using the quarter sheet pan, place a large baking sheet on the rack underneath to catch any drips.)

  5. 5

    While focaccia bakes, bring garlic, rosemary, and remaining 1/4 cup oil to a simmer in a small saucepan over very low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

  6. 6

    Let focaccia cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Brush evenly with rosemary mixture. Slide a metal spatula around sides and underneath focaccia to loosen, then slide onto wire rack to cool. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

Garlic and Rosemary oil topping for Focaccia

Garlic and Rosemary oil topping for Focaccia

615 min10 servings

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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

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About this Recipe

Tired of mediocre bread? Imagine pulling a warm, aromatic focaccia from your oven, its golden crust glistening with fragrant garlic and rosemary oil. This recipe delivers that bakery-quality experience right in your kitchen, transforming simple ingredients into an extraordinary side dish.

What makes this focaccia truly special is its approachable nature paired with an exceptional flavor profile. With just six main ingredients for the dough and no special tools, it's designed for home cooks. The real magic, though, is the final brushing of garlic and rosemary infused olive oil—a topping that elevates this bread from delicious to absolutely over-the-top, creating a memorable savory aroma and taste.

Expect a focaccia with an irresistibly crispy crust that gives way to an incredibly light, airy, and tender interior. The rich, herbaceous notes from the fresh rosemary and aromatic thinly sliced garlic, combined with the bright salinity of flaky sea salt, infuse every bite. Each piece offers a delightful texture contrast and a deeply savory flavor, making it incredibly satisfying. Despite its gourmet appeal, the active time for this recipe is minimal, allowing for a relaxed baking process.

While this recipe perfects the classic garlic and rosemary pairing, you can subtly vary the experience. Feel free to adjust the amount of garlic and rosemary to suit your personal taste preferences for a milder or more intense herb and allium flavor. Additionally, experimenting with different types of flaky sea salt can introduce nuanced differences in crunch and minerality, though Maldon is an excellent choice.

This focaccia is perfect as a sophisticated side dish for any meal, a delightful accompaniment to soups and salads, or simply enjoyed on its own with a little extra olive oil for dipping. It's an ideal bread to share at gatherings or to elevate a weeknight dinner.

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