A special thank you to Lindsay for sponsoring this post!
Few things smell better than the sweet aroma of yeast bread baking in the oven. Add to that the fragrance of rosemary and it’s pretty much the closest thing to heaven.
Focaccia. Rustic and romantic, this prized bread from northwestern Italy is the most perfect combination of crispy, fluffy, chewy and moist that I can think of. But achieving that perfection requires several key steps. And I’m going to share those with you today throughout the step-by-step pictures so be sure to follow those for all the special tips and tricks.
Focaccia has been enjoyed since the time of ancient Rome but more recently it is associated with Ligurian cuisine – the northwest region of Italy that includes Genoa and the Italian Riviera.
It’s been too long, take me back there now!
The word focaccia comes from the Latin word focus which translates as “hearth” or “place for baking.” I like that. Because the kitchen today – our place for baking – is very much the focus and heart of the home. And what speaks the love language of “homemade” more than a fresh baked loaf of bread?
The more contemporary offspring of focaccia is pizza and while they share some similarities, there are several distinct differences. The biggest difference is that focaccia uses more yeast which increases its capacity to absorb large amounts of olive oil. And using plenty of oil is key to achieving the right consistency. Indeed, focaccia is also known as “olive oil bread” for that reason. Authentic focaccia is not a thick, dry, fluffy bread. It’s crispy-chewy with a generous amount of olive oil soaked into it.
One of focaccia’s visual hallmarks are its dimples. But aside from their aesthetic appeal, these dimples also serve a functional purpose: The dimples provide a divot in which the olive oil can pool and absorb into the bread as it’s baking.
Another difference is its shape: While pizza traditionally is round, focaccia is traditionally square or rectangular. Focaccia also uses more salt than pizza since it relies on fewer toppings. Which leads us to our final distinction: Whereas it’s acceptable in Italy to use more than one topping on a pizza, traditional focaccia is limited to one and that’s commonly paired with an herb as with today’s recipe, Olive & Rosemary Focaccia. But if you’ve ever tried the real thing in Italy, you know that these limits are perfectly fair because it is the bread that is the star. And this crispy-chewy, olive oil-drenched bread is a star indeed.
There are regional variations of focaccia throughout Italy, including sweet variations like focaccia dolce that uses raisins and honey. Today we’re making the original focaccia, focaccia alla Genovese, which is savory.
I’m going to make this focaccia using olives and rosemary but you can use the toppings of your choice.
Let’s get started!
First we’re going to prepare the yeast dough.
Combine the yeast, water and sugar in a bowl and let it sit in a warm place for about 15 minutes until frothy.
Traditionally of course the dough would be kneaded by hand, but we’re going to take advantage of modern conveniences. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the flour combine the flour, salt, olive oil and yeast mixture.
Fit the stand mixer with a dough hook and knead the dough on low speed until the dough comes together, then increase to medium speed and continue to knead for another 5-7 minutes until the texture becomes smooth and soft. If the dough is too sticky add a little more flour.
Remove the dough, spray the mixer bowl with olive oil, return the dough, cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap and put it in a warm, draft-free place to rise for at least 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Coat a standard 15 1/2 x 10 ½-inch rimmed sheet pan with the 1/4 cup of olive oil.
Don’t skimp on the oil. That’s going to not only enable some olive oil to absorb up into the focaccia from the bottom, it’s going to produce a lightly crispy bottom crust.
Place the dough on the oiled sheet pan, pulling and pressing it with your hands it to spread it across to fit the size of the pan.
Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for another 60 minutes or until doubled in size. Towards the end, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
We’re almost ready for the toppings.
First we’re going to make some deep depressions in the dough to enable to olive oil to absorb into the bread while baking. Those dimples will also provide a convenient divot in which to place the olives.
The dimples in the dough enable to olive oil to pool inside the divots and absorb into the bread while baking. See the air pockets throughout the interior of the bread? The end result is a focaccia with a crispy exterior and a lightly moist and chewy interior. It’s pure heaven!
Use your fingertips to press lots of deep dimples into the dough without breaking through the bottom surface of the dough.
Drizzle with olive oil.
Be generous. Remember, focaccia is also known as “olive oil bread” and that is key to achieving the right texture and consistency.
Place the olives throughout some of the dimples. There is no right or wrong as to how many olives you use. I space them about an inch or so apart across the whole sheet pan.
Use can use any olive of your choice. If you prefer a mild olive, black olives are a great choice. For this focaccia I’m using Kalamata olives because their bold flavor really pairs great with bread. Their deep dark purplish tone also adds a lot of visual appeal to the focaccia. I’m using Lindsay® Greek Pitted Kalamata Olives. They have a wonderfully rich and intensely fruity flavor.
Sprinkle generously with fresh rosemary. I usually use far more rosemary than what is pictured below, I just ran out of it in my garden. I also like to stick in the tips of 2-3 sprigs just to make it even prettier.
Using fresh rosemary is an absolute, unequivocal must! Do not substitute dried. Just don’t.
Sprinkle fairly generously with coarse salt or fleur de sel. I love the flaky texture and delicate flavor of fleur de sel and it’s a great choice for focaccia.
Bake on the middle shelf for 15-20 minutes or until the top is light golden brown.
Let it cool for a couple of minutes before slicing into squares. It’s best served immediately while the crust is still warm and crispy.
Let’s take a closer look at the focaccia.
See how the top is a little crackly? That’s the kind of crispiness we’re after. And when you sink you’re teeth into it you get that lightly moist and chewy olive-oil interior.
Enjoy!
Olive Rosemary Focaccia
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 teaspoons active dried yeast
- 1 3/4 cup warm water
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons quality extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup Lindsay® Greek Pitted Kalamata Olives or Black Olives rinsed and drained
- 1/4 cup quality extra virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
- Fresh coarsely chopped rosemary leaves for topping
- A few tips of rosemary sprigs for topping garnish
- Coarse sea salt (I love fleur de sel for topping)
Instructions
- Combine the yeast, water and sugar in a bowl and let it sit in a warm place for about 15 minutes until frothy.
- In a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, salt, olive oil and yeast mixture on low speed until the dough comes together, then increase to medium speed and continue to knead for another 5-7 minutes until the texture becomes smooth and soft. If the dough is too sticky add a little more flour.
- Remove the dough, spray the mixer bowl with olive oil, return the dough, cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap and put it in a warm, draft-free place to rise for at least 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Coat a standard 15 1/2 x 10 ½-inch rimmed sheet pan with the 1/4 cup of olive oil. Place the dough on the sheet pan, pulling and pressing it with your hands it to spread it across to fit the size of the pan. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for another 60 minutes or until doubled in size. Towards the end, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Use your fingertips to press lots of deep dimples into the dough then drizzle generously with olive oil, letting the oil pool in the dimples. Place the olives throughout some of the dimples, sprinkle generously with rosemary leaves and a few rosemary sprig tips and some coarse salt.
- Bake on the middle shelf for 15-20 minutes or until the top is light golden brown. Let it cool for a couple of minutes before slicing into squares. Best served immediately while the crust is still warm and crispy.
A special thank you to Lindsay® for sponsoring this post and to my readers for supporting the brands that make The Daring Gourmet possible!
Samuel says
Thank you for sharing.
Mary Toombs says
Hi! I know this recipe has been around awhile but I wanted to say that I searched for a recipe and method similar to that shown on Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat and this one is it! I don’t have a stand mixer so I just kneaded by hand as they did in the show. It was fantastic!!! As heavenly as it appeared on the show. Thank you!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so happy to hear that, Mary, thanks so much for the feedback!
Kyle says
I made this recipe step by step, and for some reason my bread turned out like pizza crust, obviously I did something wrong. It does not look like the pictures shown above. I didn’t add anything extra or anything less that was needed. It smells so good, but looks so wrong. I let it rise for so long, but it still turned out like a biscuit. This is the first time I made this, so I wasn’t expecting it to turn out perfect, but maybe you could tell me where I went wrong.
Stefanie says
Hi Kyle, sorry I’m late responding, but I just came across this recipe and made the bread this morning. I bake a lot at home and when my yeast dough doesn’t rise it is because you may have done something to kill off the active ingredients in the yeast itself. This happens for example if the water you used was too hot or you have added too much salt. Salt kills yeast, too, that’s why you make the yeast dough starter seperate with the sugar. Sorry it didn’t work out this time, do keep trying! Fresh bread (and also cakes!) are so satifying and smell so good :)
Tom Lincoln says
Hi, I live in the UK and was wondering if plain flour and all purpose flour are the same things?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Tom, yes they’re basically the same and can be used interchangeably. Happy baking!
Geraldine Toltschin says
Thanks so much. Your recipes are just wonderful.
Sweetpea57 says
First of all Thank You! I have made this time and time again, I like to share it with my next door neighbors, their daughters are picky eaters but love love love this.The youngest has already come over and learned how to make it so she can make it at home now…….Her dad gave me a rosemary bush as I kept having to ask for fresh rosemary…… soooooo sweet!!!!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That is so awesome!! Super sweet, thanks so much for sharing!
carol scamorza says
can you make the dough the night before and refrigerate it. thank u
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Carol, yes you can.
Maria Roberts says
I live at high altitude, 7,000 feet, Park City, UT. All you need to do is use instead of the recipe amounts quoted, you use 1 and 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast (red) from King Arthur Flour (I also use their flour). Step 1 of the recipe is not necessary if you use the instant yeast, just mix the yeast in with the flour and other ingredients per step 2. Proceed with the recipe, however, don’t let it double in size, just a little (1 inch) less. Then follow the recipe. It was very good.
However, I would like to add that I find it odd that the comments made were mostly about the “look” of the product, rather than having made the recipe. This is really not a good way to help others who might want to try this. Don’t jude a recipe you don’t actually try. It’s not helpful.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Maria, and thanks for the high altitude info!
Barb Nordin says
Does anyone have any advice for baking this at high altitude? I live at 6500 feet in Colorado. Baking is always a challenge here.
René says
Wow, thank you so much for this recipe! I learnt how to make this on a cooking course in Tuscany but when I got back home and tried the recipe it was a complete flop! Made this last night and the entire bread was demolished by my family! I’ll definitely make this one again!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Fantastic, René, that’s clearly a VERY good sign! :) Thanks so much for the feedback!
Alexandra says
This was delicious!! I made it a lot thicker, and it came out so fluffy. Will be using this as my go-to recipe from now on, thank you!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Wonderful, Alexandra, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
vanessa says
Hello, do you think I could use whole wheat flour for this?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Vanessa, I use whole grains 95% of the time when I cook and bake for our family. There are some exceptions I’ll make when a dish really just depends on good ol’ white flour for texture – this focaccia is one example. Unlike white flour, whole wheat flour contains bran which cuts through the gluten and takes away from the airy texture, making it very dense. It also greatly alters the flavor. I guess what I’m saying is yes, you “can” use whole wheat flour but neither the texture nor the flavor will be anything like it’s supposed to.
Vanessa says
Thank you for your answer.
What about the sugar?can I omit it?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
You can, but sugar assists the yeast in creating a higher rise.
Lora @savoringitaly says
I just love the bubbling of yeast and the smell while the dough is rising…nothing like making homemade bread! Those dimples are perfect and so is your focaccia!Bravissim!
Brandy | Nutmeg Nanny says
Someone needs to take me to Italy ASAP! I love a fresh focaccia! Looks delicious!
Peggy says
Wow this looks absolutely delicious! I’ve never made focaccia before but I definitely want to try this one. Can’t wait. I love your step by step photos.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks so much, Peggy! :) Happy baking!
Paul edwards says
Kimberly, I have a brand new oven here in Thailand. Bad news is fresh rosemary not available. What would your recomendation be ? We have parsley, mint, basil fresh. None of which seems to go. Garlic ?? Regards paul.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Paul, the most important aspect of this is the focaccia itself, not the toppings. You could make it without anything on it at all except for the salt and it would still taste marvelous because of the texture and the yeast/olive oil flavor. Because the base recipe is simple with no dominating flavors that really “clash” with anything per se, you can add any toppings you like. How about creating a fun “Thai Focaccia” with flavors typical of that cuisine? Thai basil, Thai chili peppers (for a gorgeous color and some heat), garlic, ginger…maybe even a touch of mint for freshness to contrast with the heat of the chilies…or a combination incorporating cilantro (coriander)…or if you like really spicy foods you could add a drizzling of red chili oil….you could create some really mouth-watering combinations celebrating Thai flavors. I’m hungry already! :)
Gail says
Beautiful pictures and a great focaccia recipe.
Joanie @ ZagLeft says
Olive focaccia is my favorite! Your focaccia looks absolutely delicious and your photos are beautiful.
Adina says
Wonderful looking focaccia, I haven’t had any in a long time… Next time I will try this recipe, it sounds great and I love the olives on top.
Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos says
This focaccia is sheer perfection – this looks scrumptious!