Focaccia bread recipe

What’s your favorite side for a busy weeknight? 

For us, it is a quick and easy Mexican corn soup with freshly baked Focaccia bread- yum!! 

I enjoy my rosemary focaccia bread with warm soup because this delicious bread is so good at dipping in and it soaks up all the delicious flavors. But, my kids love the traditional way. Their favorite way to eat this vegan bread is by dipping it in olive oil- parmesan, and black pepper mixture. Super yummy, right?

Either way, with soup or as is, this easy focaccia bread makes a hearty side to any meal. Once out of the oven, no one can resist it – these tender and delicious bread will tantalize your taste buds. 

Focaccia is a flat-bread topped with various herbs, olive oil, and baked to perfection. Making your homemade bread may seem like a daunting task, but it’s a pretty straight forward recipe.

This simple recipe can be a starting point for beginners as it starts with an easy way to use yeast and make homemade bread. The dough is infused with rosemary, black pepper, and salt.

Later the vegan bread is generously drizzled with olive oil and baked in the oven. It tastes amazing!

Herb focaccia bread is made up of simple ingredients that you can easily find in your pantry – 

• All-purpose flour
• Olive oil
• Active dry yeast
• Sugar 
• Italian Herb Seasoning
• Salt
• Warm Water 
• Dried Rosemary
• Parmesan cheese
• Coarsely crushed black peppercorns
• Olive oil

Just like any other bread, herb focaccia dough is also prepared by activating the yeast mixture and adding that to the flour.

What does it mean to activate the yeast?

Yeast is a living organism. To make it alive or active, dry yeast needs to be dissolved in lukewarm water or milk. The temperature of wet ingredients should be between 100-110 degrees F.

A temperature above this will kill the yeast. Allow the yeast to sit undisturbed for 5-10 minutes until bubbly and frothy. Yeast will swell in size. Just like this ?. 

PROTIP – If your yeast fails this step – please discard the yeast and start all over again. Do not proceed to the next step or you will end up with dense and sticky rosemary focaccia bread.

1. Combine all the ingredients mentioned under “Dough Ingredients” (except 2 tablespoon flour mentioned at last) in a big bowl. Pour activated yeast and the remaining 3/4 cup of water. 

2. Knead a soft and pliable dough. Cover the bowl loosely with a wet towel. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours.

3. The dough will double in size and look like this – all fluffy and airy.

4. Remove the dough from the bowl, dust it with some flour and start kneading the dough. This step is necessary – if the dough is not kneaded well, the bread will turn out dense.

Dough elasticity and gluten formation are enhanced by kneading. Punch it, squeeze it, and knead the dough for 10 minutes. Make a smooth ball.

5. Grease a 9-inch baking tray and transfer dough onto that baking tray. Stretch the dough to fit the entire pan. Cover and let it sit for another 20 – 40 minutes. This process is called proofing the dough.

Proofing means – the final dough rise before baking. Proof the dough in a warm place. The dough will double in size.

6. Preheat oven @400 degree F. Uncover the dough and using your finger or spoon poke holes or make wells all over the dough.

7. Add the toppings – crushed black pepper, rosemary, and Parmesan cheese. Finally, drizzle olive oil all over the unbaked focaccia bread.

8. Transfer the unbaked rosemary focaccia bread to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown – beautifully baked focaccia bread is ready. 

Your house must be smelling heavenly by now!

9. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly. Cut in squares and serve it with a steaming bowl of your favorite soup and enjoy!!

There are endless possibilities to flavor this bread. Some tested and tried ones are: 

• Chili-garlic sauce
• Basil and crushed garlic 
• Red bell peppers and olives
• Sun-dried tomatoes and onions
• Basil and cherry tomatoes
• Pesto
• Garlic herb seasoning are few of my favorites.

This tastiest and easy herb focaccia bread is a perfect accompaniment to almost any meal.  

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe. Feel free to contact me with any questions or inquiries, and I would be happy to answer them.

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