Focaccia Bread
Famous for its soft, airy texture and crisp, golden crust, focaccia is an Italian flatbread.It's made with basic ingredients like flour, water, yeast, salt, and olive oil, and it's frequently garnished with sea salt, rosemary, garlic, olives, tomatoes, or onions.
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 ¾ cups warm water (about 110°F / 45°C)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp salt
- ½ cup olive oil (plus more for greasing and drizzling)
- Coarse sea salt (for topping)
- Fresh rosemary or other herbs (optional)
Instructions
Activate The Yeast
- In a large bowl, mix the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy.
Make The Dough
- Add flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix until a sticky dough forms. Add ¼ cup olive oil and knead (by hand or mixer with a dough hook) for about 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
First Rise
- Coat a large bowl with olive oil, place the dough in it, cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
Prepare The pan
- Grease a baking sheet or pan (about 9x13 inches) with olive oil. Spread the dough into the pan using your fingers. Let it rest for another 20–30 minutes.
Dimple And Season
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Use your fingers to press deep dimples all over the dough. Drizzle generously with olive oil, sprinkle coarse sea salt, and scatter herbs like rosemary on top.
Bake
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
Cool And Serve
- Let it cool slightly before slicing. Enjoy warm or at room temperature!