Description
An Italian bread with a golden, soft crust, perfect for sharing with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1¾ cups warm water
- 2 teaspoons instant dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 4 cups all-purpose or bread flour
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (plus 2 tablespoons for greasing the pan)
- 3 tablespoons water
- ½ teaspoon salt (plus flaked salt to taste)
- 3 pinches rosemary (optional, fresh or dried)
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: Mix warm water, yeast, and sugar in a small bowl. Let it rest for 30 seconds until the yeast is fully dissolved.
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt. Add the water-yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon for about 1 minute until a wet, sticky dough forms. Then incorporate the olive oil and mix for another minute.
- Fermentation: For quick fermentation, cover the bowl with a damp cloth and place it in a slightly warm oven for 1.5 to 2 hours, until the dough doubles in size. For a slow fermentation, refrigerate the dough for 8 to 24 hours, then let it sit at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours before continuing.
- Folding: After fermentation, fold the dough over itself 20 to 40 times within 30 to 60 seconds to strengthen its structure.
- Final fermentation: Grease your pan with 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil and place the dough in it. Spread out using the back of two spoons to cover the pan. Cover again and let rise in a warm corner for 45 minutes.
- Prepare the topping: In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 3 tablespoons of water, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Dampen your fingers with this mixture and make indentations in the dough. Pour the remaining mixture over the dough, allowing it to seep into the indentations. Add rosemary and optional flaked salt.
- Baking: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Once ready, bake the focaccia in the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, checking for a golden and crispy top.
- Cooling: Allow the focaccia to cool for at least 5 minutes before removing it from the pan, slicing, and serving.
Notes
For a crispy crust, use a preheated pizza stone in your oven. Maintain the right rising times for optimal texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: focaccia, italian bread, homemade bread, easy bread
