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Ultimate Focaccia Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 118 reviews

This Ultimate Focaccia Recipe yields a golden, crisp-on-the-edges Italian flatbread with a soft and airy interior. Infused with extra virgin olive oil and optionally topped with fresh rosemary and flaky sea salt, it’s perfect as a side, sandwich base, or snack. The dough undergoes two rises for perfect texture and flavor, and baking at a high temperature creates a beautifully rustic focaccia.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough Ingredients

  • 500 g (4 cups) all-purpose or bread flour
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons instant yeast (or active dry yeast)
  • 400 ml (1¾ cups) warm water
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing
  • 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)

Topping Ingredients

  • Flaky sea salt, for topping
  • Fresh rosemary or herbs of choice (optional)

Instructions

  1. Mix Dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour, kosher salt, and yeast. Add the warm water and 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Mix everything together until a sticky dough forms, ensuring all the flour is hydrated.
  2. First Rise: Cover the bowl with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place for 3 to 4 hours, or until it has doubled in size and appears bubbly.
  3. Prepare Pan: Generously grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with olive oil. Transfer the risen dough into the pan and gently stretch it to fit the pan without tearing.
  4. Second Rise: Cover the dough again and allow it to rise for another 45 to 60 minutes, so it puffs up further and relaxes in the pan.
  5. Dimple & Top: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Drizzle the surface of the dough with olive oil. Using your fingers, press deep dimples all over the dough’s surface. Sprinkle flaky sea salt and fresh rosemary or your choice of herbs evenly on top.
  6. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the focaccia is golden brown and the edges are crisp.
  7. Cool: Remove the focaccia from the oven and let it cool for about 15 minutes before slicing and serving to lock in the flavors and prevent crumbling.

Notes

  • For best flavor, use bread flour for a chewier texture or all-purpose flour for a softer crumb.
  • If using active dry yeast, dissolve it in warm water with sugar for 5-10 minutes before mixing with flour.
  • Adjust herbs as per your taste: thyme, oregano, or basil work wonderfully as alternatives to rosemary.
  • Drizzling extra olive oil before baking gives the focaccia a lovely golden crust and rich taste.
  • Leftover focaccia can be stored in an airtight container and reheated in an oven for best results.

Keywords: focaccia, Italian bread, homemade bread, rosemary focaccia, flatbread, olive oil bread

Find it online: https://trendytasterecipes.com/ultimate-focaccia-recipe/