Focaccia bread

Focaccia bread: Savoury, homemade bread. Image: Lindsay Samuels.

Focaccia bread – Savoury, homemade no-knead bread

Grab your baking gear and whip together a delicious, homemade focaccia bread.

Focaccia bread

Focaccia bread: Savoury, homemade bread. Image: Lindsay Samuels.

What is better than your own homemade focaccia bread with a warm, flavour-packed winter meal? This easy, no-knead focaccia bread recipe is the perfect accompaniment to a rich soup or a thick, meaty stew. Just what you need to soak up all the delicious sauces.

There is something so satisfying and comforting about baking your own homemade bread. The tempting flavours whiffing through your home accompanied by the golden-brown exterior of the baked bread is enough to convince anyone to have a slice.

Although this focaccia bread recipe takes some time to allow the dough to rise a few times, it does not require much labour as there is no need to knead the dough.

This recipe uses garlic, rosemary and coarse salt as topping for a delicious savoury bite. However, you can literally top it with anything you like. Add some feta cheese and spinach, or what about mushrooms and olives? Sundried tomatoes and rosemary will also make a delicious combination.

Don’t let this winter pass without baking your own focaccia bread!

Foccacia bread recipe

5 from 4 votes
Recipe by Lindsay Samuels Course: SidesCuisine: GlobalDifficulty: Easy
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes
Rising Time

160

minutes
Total time

3

hours 

30

minutes

Ingredients

  • cups all-purpose flour or white bread flour

  • teaspoons instant yeast

  • 1 tablespoon 1 sugar

  • 1 teaspoon 1 salt

  • 1½ – 2 cups 1½ – 2 warm water

  • 2 tablespoons 2 olive oil or canola oil

Method

  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast and salt.
  • Add sugar to warm water and pour into dry ingredients along with the oil.
  • Use your hands or a spoon to combine the ingredients. The dough should be wet but do not add more flour. Continue to slowly combine using your middle finger and thumb in a ‘pinching’ motion.
  • Leave the dough to sit for 20 minutes under cling wrap in a warm place.
  • After 20 minutes, instead of kneading the dough, slowly fold the dough towards the centre in a rotating motion. Do this for 3 minutes and leave to sit for another 20 minutes. Repeat this until the dough is soft and smooth. The dough should spring back when poked. 
  • Shape the dough into a ball and leave to rise double in size for one hour.
  • Oil a baking tray and scrape the dough into the tray. Flatten it out until the tray is filled.
  • Leave to prove for 30 minutes under a dry cloth or cling wrap.
  • Drizzle the dough with oil and use your fingers to poke holes into the dough. Leave to prove for another 30 minutes.
  • Add any toppings of your choice such as rosemary or garlic along with coarse salt.
  • Bake in a preheated oven of 210°C for 20 minutes.
  • Let it rest in tray for 5 minutes before flipping out to cool.

Notes

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For more easy, no-knead bread recipes and much more to prepare for your family and friends, have a look at our recipe page, we have so many tasty ideas for you to try.

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