Basic Focaccia Bread Recipe
Simple and easy focaccia bread recipe from Bon Appétit. This is a great foundational recipe that is delicious by itself or you can add a variety of toppings to make different varieties.
Equipment
- 1 9" x 13" Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 1 pkg active dry yeast ¼ oz.
- 2 tsp honey
- 5 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp Morton kosher salt (or 5 tsp Diamond Crystal)
- 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil divided
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- sea salt
- 4 garlic cloves
Instructions
- Whisk one ¼ oz envelope active dry yeast, 2 tsp honey, and 2 ½ cups lukewarm water in a mixing bowl and let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Add 5 cups all purpose flour and kosher salt and mix with a rubber spatula until a shaggy dough forms and there are no dry streaks.
- In a large bowl add 4 tbsp of the olive oil. Transfer the dough to the large bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in the refrigerator for 8-24 hours until doubled in size. You can also let it rise at room temperature for 3-4 hours.
- Butter a 9" x 13" baking pan. Add 1 tbsp olive oil to the middle of that pan.
- Take the dough bowl and using 2 forks, lift the opposite side edge of the dough and fold over the center. Give the bowl a quarter turn and continue to fold the dough until it's deflated and formed into a rough ball. Transfer dough to the prepared baking pan. Cover with the remaining olive oil, and let rise, uncovered, in a warm spot until doubles in size, usually 1½ to 4 hours. The dough will be ready when, if you poke it with your finger, it springs back slowly leaving an indentation.
- Preheat oven to 450°. Lightly oil your hands. Dimple focaccia all over, creating deep depressions in the dough. Be aggressive. Drizzle the dough with 1 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake for 20-30 minutes.
- [Optional] Prior to serving, melt 4 tbsp butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Grate cloves with a microplane and add to butter, cooking until garlic is lightly toasted. Brush garlic butter over focaccia and cut into squares for serving.
- You can freeze focaccia bread. Reheat on a baking sheet in a 300° oven.