Simple Focaccia

 

Simple Focaccia is easy Italian focaccia bread recipe using Manitoba flour, olive oil and warm water. Great to enjoy simple slice with wine or cut to make a sandwich but could be served with stew or soup!

 

How to make focaccia bread?

When making the dough my grandmother would make the sponge first but not overnight focaccia recipe. It is easy and quick version that works every time! After 30 minutes of room temperature rest, it is ready for the rest of dough ingredients for the best results. Here is how the sponge looks like:

This recipe is done in the same manner, and I firmly believe this to be the key part of the process. Both for savoury and sweet doughs. Preparation and rising takes 1 hour and 40 minutes but only 20 minutes of your active time, approximately.

 

This is how focaccia dough looks before you add toppings:

Just before baking:

 

If any leftovers, we store our bread for two days at room temperature, covered with baking paper or dry kitchen towel. That way, focaccia bread remains crispy on the outside. If you cover it with foil or any plastic wrap, crust becomes soft and sticky.

When you have focaccias recipes like this one: tried and tested during decades, topping ingredients, and serving are not the problem. You may add canned tuna, herbs you prefer, bell peppers, ham, pancetta, cheese or extra virgin olive oil and coarse salt only. Everything works!

Once photographed, we had slices of focaccia with olives only and it was an excellent brunch. Also, you may serve this one with Zuppa Toscana or any other soup or stew you prefer.

 

Some people use this simple focaccia bread to halve it crosswise, fill with their favorite stuff, close and slice to serve. Isn’t it great?

So keep this recipe to have for those days you plan to spend in the open and enjoy homemade bread recipe the way you like.
I was inspired to arrange focaccia this way by Sweet Gula  (  link ).  He creates miracles !

 

What types of bread is focaccia?

Focaccia is a type of Italian yeast bread baked in flat sheet pans. The dough is flavored with olive oil and sometimes topped with herbs and other vegetables.

You may use rounded dishes to bake focaccia dough. Rounded baking dishes are also welcome as long as you keep the dough flat. This is important!

 

What is the difference between focaccia and pizza?

The primary difference is how much yeast is added to the dough and therefore how much the dough can rise. Focaccia dough use more yeast, which gives it a lighter, fluffier texture than a traditional pizza dough and is more bread alike.

If you are interested to learn more, please take a look here .

 

How do I make my focaccia soft?

Some people add mashed potatoes to the dough to add extra starch. I don’t since my son doesn’t like it.

 

Can you over knead focaccia?

It’s vital to stop mixing at the first signs of over-kneading, as a fully over-kneaded dough cannot be fixed. Over-kneaded dough will also tear more quickly, as the gluten strands in the dough have become so tight, they easily break under pressure.

 

There is an amazing link  to look into 10 tips to make the best focaccia, suggested by Alessio John Matteo Da Pratto .