Homemade Basic Rosemary Focaccia
This Rosemary Focaccia is soft and fluffy on the inside with a slightly crisp outside and a beautiful chewiness in every delicious bite!
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 4 cups bread flour (can substitute AP, will just be lighter, less chewy)
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (divided in to 4 Tbsp)
- 2 Tbsp fresh rosemary and/or other fresh herbs
- Flakey sea salt for sprinkling over the top of the bread (I use about 1 Tbsp)
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the warm water, yeast and sugar. Let stand for 3-4 minutes until starting to foam.
- In your mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the salt. Add the yeast mixture and stir until well combined with a spatula or a bread whisk. This is a wet, shaggy dough.
- Shape the dough into a rough ball, drizzle with a Tbsp of olive oil and toss the dough around in it until completely covered. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Once risen, use your spatula to fold the risen dough in to the middle of the bowl 8 times, turning the bowl a quarter turn each time you do a fold.
- Drizzle 2 Tbsp olive oil in your 13x9 pan. Place the dough in the pan and gently push and stretch it in to the prepared baking dish as best you can using your knuckles and fingers.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let rise another 30 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees
- Drizzle the remaining Tbsp of olive oil over the top and using your fingers, poke dimples all over the top of the bread.
- Sprinkle the bread with the fresh rosemary or other herbs and then sprinkle with some flakey sea salt, (I love Maldon Sea Salt Flakes!)
- Bake at 425 on the middle rack for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove from pan and let cool slightly on a cooling rack before slicing. You can drizzle with a little more olive oil before serving if desired.
Notes
Once you feel comfortable with this basic recipe you can play around with flavors and toppings. Try adding chopped sundried tomatoes along with the rosemary or slicing cherry tomatoes in half and placing them all over the top with basil. You could use sliced olives or sliced jalapenos with shredded cheese. Crumbled goat or feta cheese, crumbled bacon, caramelized onions, roasted or finely chopped garlic, everything bagel seasoning, and pine nuts are all good options too. The possibilities are really endless!