If any type of bread screams summer, for me it is focaccia. This particular olive oil focaccia is not only an amazing match for tomato bounty, fresh pesto and homemade jam, but it is also super easy to make.
My mom has been making focaccia for a long time. She is also the reason I love to make bread! When I was growing up, she’d make a HUGE batch of basic bread. We would turn it into whatever we would want: cinnamon rolls, a savory herb and paprika tea ring, pizza. We had a ton of fun, and had amazing food to eat as well!
I recently made a half sheet pan of this olive oil focaccia, and shared it with my family. Paired with garden tomatoes, it was perfect! Leftovers made great egg sandwiches and vehicles for veggie burgers (love these from Dana!).
The recipe I used is from a pizza book my mom has, but I cannot remember what it is right now – I’ll have to check! The technique is adapted from Claire Saffitz, but is really super similar to pretty much any focaccia technique you’ll find out there. For me, the key and best part of this olive oil and sea salt focaccia is a) playing with the pillow-y dough, and b) seeing all the fun bubbles that form from the overnight, up to 24 hour, final rise in the fridge. SO FUN!
I’ve been inspired by the focaccia artwork I’ve seen on the Insta lately: using fruits, veg and herbs to make a fun picture pre-bake. Maybe next time! Ohh and if you have fresh rosemary, definitely mix some into the dough…it is one of our (ahem, Denis) favorites here – but I forgot this time around!
Honestly, I was just happy that my oven didn’t stop working mid-bake (it’s been doing that lately), and that I got to share this with people I love.
Go get baking and enjoy!!
Hot tip: if you need the 411 on active dry vs. instant, and how to use either, see here!
Olive Oil Focaccia
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
- 3 cups Warm Water aim for 105F
- 6 cups 930g All Purpose Flour
- 3 tsp Fine Sea Salt if using coarser salt, use closer to 6 tsp
- 6 TB Extra Virgin Olive Oil use an oil you love here, you'll really taste it!
- 1/3 cup Fresh Rosemary or other fresh herbs, finely chopped
- Additional Extra Virgin Olive Oil for coating the pan
- Coarse Sea Salt for sprinkling the top before baking
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl, add water and yeast, mix. Allow to sit until bubbly, about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in the olive oil, flour and sea alt with a spatula. Mix until things start to come together. If using herbs, you can mix them in now.
- With a mixer and dough hook, knead the dough on medium-high for 5 minutes, until smooth. Or, knead by hand on an floured surface for about 10 minutes. After this kneading step, allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes.
- Mix again on medium-high for 10-15 minutes, or by hand on a floured surface for 15 minutes, until the dough is smooth and starts to pull away from the bowl. It is OK if it is still very sticky – it should be! But the dough should be forming, and will be partially wound around the dough hook. You can do the windowpane test if desired.
- Remove bowl from mixer, and get all the dough in the bowl. Oil your hands, and drizzle oil on top of the dough mass. Using your hands, work the dough into a ball-shape (doesn't need to be perfect), and scrape the sides of the bowl clean – get all the dough into one ball.
- Cover the bowl with a towel, and allow to rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until it is double in size.
- Oil or wet you hands, and gently scoop them around the puffed dough ball. Lift the dough and allow it to fall on itself. Release the dough, turn the bowl about a quarter turn, and repeat. Do this a total of three times.
- Allow the dough to rest as you prepare the pan for baking the focaccia in. Generously apply olive oil to a half sheet pan, using your hands to get it on all surfaces. You want a visible layer of olive oil shining back at you!
- Without washing your hands, transfer the dough onto the greased sheet pan. Gently coax it into the pan. It will fight back – so let it rest for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, finish coaxing and pressing the dough into an even thickness. The top of the dough should be quite oily, if not, apply a bit more oil, then cover with plastic wrap.
- Allow to rise in the fridge for 12-24 hours (or, to bake the same day: allow the dough to rise at room temperature for a final 45 minutes to 1 hour, until very puffy and large bubbles form).
- To bake, pre-heat oven to 450F. Arrange a rack in the bottom third and top third of the oven.
- Dimple the focaccia: drizzle olive oil over the top of the dough, and using your fingers, press down into the dough surface. Repeat until the dough is evenly dimpled. Scatter the coarse sea salt over the top of the dough.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes on the bottom rack, then 5-10 minutes on the top rack, until golden brown.
- Allow to cool until you can touch it, then remove from pan by using a thin spatula or off-set spatula. Cut into pieces and enjoy.