We were maxed out on sweets today, so I decided to make a batch of basic focaccia. I can’t think of any yeast bread that I don’t like, but focaccia is one I really love because it’s different everywhere you go and it’s fun to see how other people make it.
Very Basic Recipe With Bread Flour
The recipe is adapted from on I found on Recipezaar years ago. It's about as basic as they come, but very good. It’s chewy from the bread flour, but has a soft tight crumb and not too many extraneous things like cheese, onions, and sun-dried tomatoes. Those things are fine, but I like something a little lighter before a meal and this recipe hit the spot.
I changed the recipe quite a bit from the original, and I also cut the sage. I like sage, but not in focaccia. P.S. Happy Labor Day! I hope you all have big plans. I'm going to be here at home baking.
This is a basic focaccia recipe, so feel free to jazz it up with more spices. Below are some other ways to make it.
Recipe
A Basic Focaccia
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water divided use
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast 1 packet
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil plus more for brushing
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 ¾ cups bread flour (375 grams)
- 1 teaspoon salt 5 ml
- coarse sea salt to sprinkle
Instructions
- Combine ½ cup of the water and the packet of yeast in a large glass measuring cup. Add the sugar and let sit for 10 minutes or until it becomes very bubbly. Stir in the olive oil and rosemary.
- Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the water mixture to the dry mixture and stir well. Add the remaining ½ cup of water, about a tablespoon at a time, stirring well. Watch the consistency of the dough and add more or less water as needed. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or knead in a stand mixer with dough hook or paddle (I use the dough hook).
- Place the dough in a large bowl that’s been coated with olive oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place for an hour.
- Preheat oven to 450 F. and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. IF you have a stone, you can use that.
- Press the dough into a rectangle of about 16 by 8 directly onto the parchment. Cover and allow to rise for another 20 minutes. Dimple the dough with your fingers and brush with more oil. Sprinkle with the sea salt.
- Put the dish in the oven or slide parchment onto a preheated pizza stone and bake for 25 minutes or until nice and brown.
- Note: You can also make this with fast-rising yeast. If using fast-rising or "instant" yeast, put the yeast in the bowl with the flour, sugar and salt. Add half cup of water, oil and rosemary. Stir well, then add remaining ½ cup of water spoonfuls at a time until dough is proper consistency.
Anna says
Thanks for the report, K! Glad you liked it.
K says
I made this on Saturday and used it as crust for a pizza. It turned out delicious although the baking time was a bit too much for my oven.
Adella says
Anna, do you set the oven on "convection bake" or straight "bake" for this? I have a new oven which I never know how to set when I'm baking. Thanks.
Laurel says
Rosemary focaccia is one of my most favorite foods!
Karen says
Hi Anna, it came out pretty good, not as squishy maybe as I would have liked, but it was very, very easy and went well with some homemade soup.
I just loosely followed this recipe:
http://mangiodasola.blogspot.com/2009/09/two-hour-focaccia-revisited.html
I cut it in half, used half bread flour and half all-purpose, eyeballed the olive oil. I just mixed it in the kitchenaid mixer and covered it and left it in the mixer bowl and went to a yoga class. Came back, turned it into a shallow pie plate and let it rise about 30 minutes before dimpling and baking. And I just used coarse salt on top, nothing else.
Katrina says
Yum! I'm not afraid of yeast! 😉 And I've made a lot of different breads, but I don't think I've ever made focaccia. Looks yummy! No onions for me, please!
LilSis says
Okay...I admit that I am afraid of yeast...but I love focaccia. BigSis is definitely the baker in the family, but ,maybe I'll get brave enough to try making this myself.
Anna says
Veggiegirl, have you tied the gluten free version? If you're interested, email me.
Karen, how funny! If it turns out, will you send me your recipe? I bought semolina today and almost made the "Macaroni Grill Copycat" recipe, but I decided to to with a different one instead.
Karen says
So bizarre. I have focaccia rising, I'm about to put it in the oven, haven't made it for years.
VeggieGirl says
Focaccia is definitely a delightful "yeast-containing" bread - I miss it!