Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Proving Time: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 55 mins
Servings: 8 to 12 Servings
Focaccia is a soft olive oil-soaked bread that comes from Italy and more commonly, from Tuscany in the northwest part of the country, where it is also known as schiacciata. There are many variations of the focaccia—some puffed up like a sponge cake, others as flat as pancakes. A traditional loaf should be light and airy with a soft crumb. It should never be dense and will rarely rise when cooked beyond 2 to 3 inches.
The classic topping for focaccia is a heavy drizzle of good quality olive oil and a sprinkling of sea salt. However, in recent times there have been more and more different flavored toppings.
Focaccia is best eaten on the day it is made. At a few days old, it can be used in recipes such as panzanella (a Tuscan summer salad, but good at any time of year) or used for bruschetta.
«This recipe is a super quick and tasty bread you can make to go with any Italian or homestyle dinner. It comes together quickly and most of the work is hands-off, so prep your dinner while your bread’s proofing. I love serving focaccia with pasta—it’s the perfect vessel for grabbing all that sauce.» —Tracy Wilk
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Ingredients
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2 3/4 cups bread flour
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1 teaspoon salt
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1 tablespoon instant yeast
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1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
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1 cup warm water
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2 teaspoons flaky sea salt
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Place the flour, salt, yeast, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, and the water into a stand mixer with a dough hook.
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Slowly mix the ingredients to form a sticky dough. Continue to mix for 4 to 5 minutes, adding more water if the dough feels dry.
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Sprinkle the dough with 1 tablespoon of oil and mix for another few minutes to create a smooth, glossy dough.
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Cover and let rise in a warm, but not hot, place until doubled in size.
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Remove the dough from the bowl. Lay onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and lightly flatten into a rectangle, which is the traditional shape. You can also make your focaccia round if you wish. Leave to prove in a warm, but not hot, place for another hour.
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Preheat the oven to 425 F. Lightly press your fingertips into the dough, then drizzle with 1/2 cup olive oil, making sure the indentations are filled. Sprinkle all over with the sea salt.
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Bake for 25 to 35 minutes. The bread is cooked when golden brown, risen, and hollow when gently tapped on the base.
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Leave to cool on a rack. Serve and enjoy.
Tip
- Wrap tightly in greaseproof paper and pop the bread into an airtight box if not eating immediately.
Recipe Variations
- Rosemary: Sprinkle roughly chopped rosemary needles—do not use the woody stalk—along with the olive oil.
- Sage: Lay finely-shredded fresh sage leaves onto the bread and sprinkle with olive oil.
- Blue Cheese: Crumble the cheese (Gorgonzola is traditional) over the risen dough. Sprinkle with the oil then bake.
- Black Olive: Place pitted black olives into the indentations (if the olives are too big, then cut in half). Sprinkle with oil, then bake.
- Onion: This is a delicious topping that's traditional, but well worth a try. Thinly slice 2 medium onions. Place them in a bowl of cold, lightly-salted water and leave to stand while you make the dough. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan. Drain the onions and dry thoroughly on kitchen paper, then gently sauté until the onions are cooked but not too soft. Place the risen dough on a baking sheet, make the indentations and then spread the cooked onion mixture. Brush with the oil and bake as directed.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 8 to 12 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 216 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 12g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat 2g | 8% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 531mg | 23% |
| Total Carbohydrate 23g | 8% |
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 4% |
| Total Sugars 0g | |
| Protein 4g | |
| Vitamin C 0mg | 0% |
| Calcium 6mg | 0% |
| Iron 0mg | 2% |
| Potassium 41mg | 1% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
