This lovely vision was created by using my master recipe process and converting it to make focaccia; by using my recipe and process all the way through to the morning after the overnight prove, you can then use the dough to create this lovely bread.
NOTE: if your dough has proved overnight and is reaching the top of the bowl or hitting the shower cap by the early morning but you’re not ready to use it yet, gently do one round of pulls and folds to calm it down a bit, then cover it again to allow it to grow and fill the bowl again over the next 2-3 hours for when you want to use it.
For this focaccia, I scaled down the quantities of my usual recipe, but you can keep them exactly as they are to make a bigger loaf than mine, or use the quantities below to make a smaller version.
Ingredients
300g strong white bread flour
210g water
30g bubbly active starter
1/2tsp salt or to taste
Additions: rosemary, garlic, or whatever you fancy!
Method
*The details for my master recipe and process are in links to the left of your screen.
Following the process up to the morning after the overnight prove, prepare a large baking tray by liberally drizzling it with a good amount of olive oil.
Using a bowl scraper or your hands, gently ease the bubbly risen dough from the bowl and let is fall onto the tray; it will pretty much plop onto the tray, which is fine, just take care not to handle it roughly or press out any of the lovely bubbles.
Gently turn the dough over so that it is all covered in olive oil and cover loosely with a large plastic bag or cling film and leave it on the counter to prove again for 1.5 – 2 hours.
Heat your oven to 200C fan (220C non fan).
Using your fingertips, push the dough out to a rectangular/oval shape until it’s about 1″/2-3cm thick. Use your finger tips to firmly press dimples all over the dough.
Sprinkle or place whatever toppings you choose over the dough; here I’ve used dried rosemary and sliced garlic (not too thinly sliced).
Bake for 17-18 until browned, or longer if you’re using a bigger dough at the start. If like me your oven has a hot spot, turn the tray round half way through.
Ease off the tray and place on a rack to cool. Resist the temptation to cut into it whilst it’s piping hot.
Cut when ready to consume and enjoy!
This makes a lovely holey light focaccia with a nice crunchy base.
Tq for sharing
😃😃😃
Can’t wait to try this! Just a quick question, if I wanted to actually mix in one of the additions to the dough itself (I’m thinking rosemary), at what stage would I do that? Thank you for all your insight! It’s a godsend for a new, overwhelmed baker 🙂
It’s my pleasure 🙂 feel free to ask questions.
I’d mix it in during one of the sets of pulls and folds…maybe the 3rd or 4th set.
I wonder, could you let me know if you get this reply please?
Elaine, it is great. I tried focaccia once but I added oil to all ingredients straight away. It was great, but I will try your method. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thank you so much 🙂
Feel free to add the oil whenever you think is best x
It is absolutely necessary to us oil. I don’t use any type of oil unless I absolutely have to. It looks like you still used baking foil, would just parchment paper work without oil. I do it with pizza crust all the time but have never made fococcia before and I am intrigued if it will worked. Thank you!
Molto brava Elaine. Now you’re in my family lane, lady. I’ve been making Samin Nosrat’s Lugurian-style Focaccia this winter, but only for company or a client because I can’t be trusted not to eat too much! Glad to have the foodbod version.
May I add the quality of the EVOO is paramount? 💁🏻🇮🇹♥️
Elaine…would this recipe work with Einkorn fall purpose flour? It’s a small enough recipe that I will try it (when I get home from a holiday in Mexico in a week!). It’s been torture seeing all this pictures and not being able to participate!
Hi, olive oil is authentic when it comes to making focaccia, for the crust and flavour; however, if you would prefer not to use it, you will still get the texture and joy of the bread. I’d definitely try it with parchment paper and maybe sprinkle the parchment paper with coarsely ground semolina to ensure it doesn’t stick and aid the crunch?
Hi, yes, please do, thank you 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I’m so glad you approve, thank you 💖💖 (I won’t be making too much of it either, it’s far to easy to eat!!)
Hi, definitely try it. I made a loaf last week which was 50:50 einkorn and spelt and it worked perfectly..
Beautiful photos. Looks really nice!
Thank you 🙂
This was perfection. Simple, pure pleasure. I topped with caramelized red onions and rosemary. Thank you Elaine for Your a great recipes and above all your guidance in all things nutritious and wonderful to eat.
Ooh, what lovely flavours!!
I’m so glad you like it and that I could help x x
Wow, wow… Elaine, how great you recipe works. I just did my focaccia. It is fantastic… Thanks a lot for sharing your experience. I placed foto report in Instagram….
Wow, wow… It is fantastic… Thanks, Elaine. I just did my focaccia using you recipe. It is great. Thanks a lot for you advices. I placed photos as report in Instagram. Thanks again.
Wonderful, thank you so much 😃😃😃😃
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Hi Elaine I can’t seem to find your focaccia recipe. I keep looking and the left of my screen no link to the recipe. Could you send me the link.
Thank you
Marisa
I have emailed you 🙂
Hi Elaine thank you for all your recipes and thank you for letting me join your group.
Marisa from Elora Ontario Canada
Thank you x x
Could you sprinkle cheese on top, or incorporate it into the dough
Yes, definitely 🙂
Made it with cheese in and on top,mixed a little bit of mixed herbs in and cut the garlic like you said. It was fantastic, I have never made this before, but I will all the time now. When cold I cut it into the little squares, and froze them. So easy to pop a couple in the microwave. Making more now. Thank you
Perfect, sounds lovely!!!! I’m so glad you like it x
planning on trying this weekend! do the ratios here create a half or quarter sheet pan sized focaccia? need to make a half pan size for fathers day.
How big is your pan?
it is half sheet size. 18 by 13 inches, or 45 by 33 cm. note: saw your response due to checking in, not due to any notification. saw you asking that above 🙂
Thank you, that’s useful to know, I’ve often wondered…
I’d say that the focaccia would cover 1/2 to 2/3 of your pan