Description
Rustic Italian focaccia bread weaves Mediterranean flavors into a delightful culinary journey. Simple ingredients and classic techniques bring this golden, herbed flatbread directly to your kitchen, inviting warm comfort with each delectable slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 500 grams (4 cups) bread flour
- 480 grams (2 cups) lukewarm water
- 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 7 grams (2 1/4 teaspoons or 1 standard packet) instant yeast
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Toppings:
- Flaky salt
- 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
Instructions
- Combine bread flour in a large bowl, strategically placing yeast and kosher salt on opposite sides to prevent direct interaction.
- Gently blend dry ingredients using fingertips, forming a central cavity in the mixture.
- Introduce lukewarm water, stirring with a wooden spoon until a rough, moist dough emerges.
- Lavishly drizzle olive oil across the dough’s surface.
- Massage oil gently into the dough using fingertips.
- Distribute oil thoroughly around bowl’s interior, ensuring complete coverage.
- Securely wrap bowl with plastic and refrigerate for 18-72 hours for flavor development.
- Prepare a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray.
- Spread olive oil centrally in the pan, setting aside for dough preparation.
- Extract chilled dough, carefully folding edges inward to create a compact ball.
- Transfer dough to prepared pan, rotating to completely coat with olive oil.
- Allow dough to rise uncovered in a warm environment for 3-4 hours until it nearly fills the pan.
- Preheat oven to 425°F during final rising stage.
- Distribute remaining olive oil over dough’s surface, thoroughly rubbing to ensure even coverage.
- Sprinkle chopped rosemary evenly across the dough.
- Create distinctive dimples by pressing fingers directly and deeply into the dough.
- Gently manipulate dough to fill pan’s corners if necessary.
- Generously garnish with flaky salt across the surface.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until achieving a golden-brown color and slightly pulling away from pan edges.
- Rest focaccia in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to maintain crisp texture.
- Allow 10 minutes cooling time before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Enhance yeast activation by using lukewarm water between 100-110°F to ensure perfect dough rising without killing the yeast.
- Protect dough’s moisture by covering the bowl tightly with plastic wrap during refrigeration, preventing surface from drying out.
- Master dimpling technique by using gentle, consistent finger pressure to create signature focaccia texture without deflating the delicate dough.
- Customize flavor profiles by experimenting with alternative herbs like thyme, oregano, or adding roasted garlic for personalized variations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 215 kcal
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 295 mg
- Fat: 6.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg