Italian FOCACCIA BREAD

Italian FOCACCIA BREAD

Focaccia is an Italian specialty typical of the Liguria Region.

Its peculiarity are the “dimples” full of seasoning that make it soft inside but crunchy on the top.

The secret to obtaining excellent focaccia bread is to use good extra virgin olive oil, let it rise, brush the surface before cooking with a special emulsion.

I will reveal all the tricks because I am Ligurian, come from Genoa, the homeland of Christopher Columbus!

This recipe comes from my grandmother who pass it down to me many years ago.

She used a secret ad unusual ingredient… be curious about what? Read recipe!

If you want to prepare quick and easy homemade focaccia bread follow the recipe. I’m sure you get into your official home recipe book!

Italian FOCACCIA BREAD

  • DifficultyEasy
  • CostVery cheap
  • Preparation time20 Minutes
  • Cooking time18 Minutes
  • Servingrectangular pan 30 x 40 cm
  • Cooking methodOven
  • CuisineItalian

Ingredients

Focaccia Bread dough

  • 3.5 cupsbread flour (450 g)
  • 11/3 cupall purpose (AP) flour (50 g)
  • 1 tablespoonhoney
  • 1.25 cupsmilk (300 ml)
  • 1 teaspoonsalt
  • 4 tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoonbutter (20 g)
  • 1 sachetinstant yeast for savory dishes (16 g)
  • q.s.salt (coarse salt )
  • 1 sprigrosemary
  • q.s.extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation

make dough

  1. Put the milk in a bowl, add the butter (this is my grandmother’s secret ingredient!) And heat it to melt the butter.

    You can do this both in the microwave and on the stove.

  2. Put all the ingredients in a bowl except the salt, then: Bread flour, All porpouse flour, instant yeast, honey, milk with melted butter and oil.

    Start working the ingredients with a spoon until you get a homogeneous consistency.

dough rest

  1. Transfer the dough to a table and knead with your hands for 5 minutes.

    Put in a bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and let it rise for 2 hours (must double in volume).

  2. After resting, roll out the dough with your hands directly into a rectangular pan (30 x 40 cm) lightly greased with oil.

    Let rise for another 30 minutes.

Make a special emulsion

  1. Mix the water, oil, salt and chopped rosemary in a small bowl.

    After the focaccia bread has risen, make holes in the surface with your fingertips.

    With a brush sprinkle focaccia with water oil emulsion and a pinch of coarse salt.

cook Focaccia Bread

  1. Cooking

    Bake in a preheated static oven at 200 degrees for 18 minutes.

    Remove from the oven and allow to cool before serving.

STORAGE

Focaccia bread must be eaten the day you cook it.

It is possible to freeze the focaccia bread.

NOTE

While you can use all-purpose flour in this recipe, I strongly recommend using bread flour. Bread flour produces a stronger, chewier bread and that makes a big difference in recipe

Instant yeast is key in this recipe. While you can use active dry if that’s all you have, any quick rise or instant yeast will produce flavorful results in less time.

Dusting the pan with cornmeal adds a pop of flavor and a little crunch to the bottom crust. This is completely optional. If you have it, use it. If you don’t have it, don’t worry about it.

You can also add herbs and seasonings such as garlic, dill, chopped onion, jalapeño, shredded cheese, chopped nuts, etc.

If you use a pan of a different size or shape, remember that the thickness of the dough for an optimal result is 1 cm before being baked.

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