Description
Homemade focaccia bread offers a delightful Italian classic with herbs, olive oil, and sea salt creating irresistible flavor layers. Mediterranean ingredients and simple techniques help bakers craft this rustic, aromatic companion to meals and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ tsps instant yeast
- 1 cup (240 ml) warm water
- ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 tsps dried basil
- 1 tsp flaky sea salt (Maldon salt)
Instructions
- Blend Dry Components: Whisk flour, salt, and yeast in a mixing bowl, ensuring uniform distribution of ingredients.
- Form Dough Base: Integrate warm water into flour mixture, stirring until a soft, tacky dough with a shaggy consistency emerges.
- Fermentation Process: Seal bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8-24 hours, allowing flavor development and gluten relaxation.
- Shape and Prepare Pan: Gently round the chilled dough and thoroughly coat an 8-inch cake pan with olive oil, positioning the dough centrally.
- Proofing Stage: Cover dough with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 2 hours until it expands to nearly fill the pan.
- Oven Preparation and Dough Enhancement: Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C), remove plastic wrap, drizzle additional olive oil over dough, and create signature dimples by pressing fingertips firmly across the entire surface.
- Seasoning and Baking: Sprinkle dried oregano, basil, and sea salt evenly over textured dough, then bake for 22-25 minutes until achieving a golden-brown color with a crisp exterior.
Notes
- Optimize Refrigeration: Slow-rise technique in the refrigerator develops complex, rich flavors and improves dough texture, so never skip the 8-24 hour cold fermentation period.
- Master the Dimpling Technique: Press fingertips firmly and evenly across the entire dough surface to create authentic focaccia texture, ensuring deep indentations that capture olive oil and herbs.
- Control Hydration Carefully: Soft, tacky dough is crucial; slightly wet consistency guarantees a light, airy interior with crispy exterior when baked correctly.
- Temperature Matters: Use warm water (around 110°F) to activate yeast and ensure proper dough development, and always preheat the oven fully before baking for consistent, golden-brown results.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg