Is there anything that beats the smell of freshly baked bread at home? The answer is no. There is not. There’s just something about fresh bread that instantly lifts the soul, and you know you’ll have a great meal. Focaccia bread, in particular, is one of my absolute favourites. Especially this Focaccia Recipe. Why?
It’s easy! It’s one of the more fail-proof bread recipes I’ve tried – perfect for beginners. You can make it your own! Add your favourite toppings – I’ll list some of mine below! It tastes amazing! Hands down, one of the best-tasting, easy bread recipes to make!
What exactly is Focaccia?
Focaccia is a flat, oven-baked Italian bread, very similar to pizza. Focaccia recipes have been used as far back as Ancient Roman times and are created in many ways depending on the region. Some are cookie-hard, like focaccia di Camogli, while others, like this focaccia recipe, are oily and soft. Focaccia can also be sweet or savoury. In some regions, it’s more of a cake than bread; the ingredients will include sugar, raisins, honey, and other sweet ingredients. Venetian Focaccia is even similar to panettone and is traditionally served at Easter.
Ingredients Required
How to Make Focaccia
Activate the instant yeast (Don’t follow this step if you are using instant active dry yeast)
The yeast is responsible for the volume of the bread, but for it to work, we have to activate it. To do this, there are 4 easy steps:
Next, we’ll prepare the dough:
Second Proofing
This is where the dough begins to take on the shape of the finished bread.
You will knead the dough again for 3-5 minutes and then place it in the baking tray or tin where you’ll be baking it. Make sure to grease the tray first before adding the dough! Press your finger to make rows of dimples in the dough (about a finger distance apart), and then add one tomato and some rosemary to each dimple. Drizzle olive oil over it and some crushed garlic. Leave the dough in a warm place to rise again for 30 minutes. Bake the Focaccia Bread: The best part! Bake the dough on the middle rack in the oven for 40 minutes at 200°C/ 392°F until golden. Let it cool, add more oil if you’d like, cut it into squares and enjoy!
What other toppings can I add?
There are so many options! Here are 35+ of my favourites:
Apple Slices Artichoke Hearts Arugula/Rocket (after baking) Bacon Basil (after baking if using fresh) Bell Peppers Cajun Seasoning Capers Chicken (roasted) Fresh Chilis Caramelized Onions Chives Chorizo Cilantro (after baking) Cheese (goat’s cheese, cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, blue cheese, ricotta) Everything Bagel Seasoning Garam Masala/ Curry Seasoning Ham Lemon (freshly squeezed or zest) Mushrooms Nuts (walnuts, pine nuts, slivered almonds) Olives (all kinds!) Oregano (after baking if using fresh) Pear slices Pepperoni Pesto Prosciutto Red Onion Red Pepper Flakes Salami Sausage (sliced links or crumbled) Seeds (flax, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin) Smoked Salmon Spring Onions Sun-Dried Tomatoes Za’atar Seasoning
How do I store this homemade focaccia bread?
If you’re eating this in the next couple of days, store it at room temperature, covered in plastic wrap, or a container for 2 days. Reheat in a 375-degree oven for 10 minutes. To freeze, cut the focaccia into individual slices, and wrap each slice in plastic wrap. Freeze for up to 1 month.
More Quick Bread Recipes
Naan Recipe (Without Yeast) Whole Wheat Pancakes Eggless Banana Bread Corn Cheese Muffin Date Nut Bread Subscribe to our weekly newsletter or follow us on Youtube for video recipes.
