Best Easiest Focaccia Bread Recipe Ever!

Quick, Fast, and Easy Focaccia Bread: A Family Favorite Recipe

Hey there, fellow food lovers!. Today, I’m thrilled to share one of my go-to recipes for family gatherings: the best, quick, easiest, and absolutely delicious focaccia bread. This recipe is a staple in our house, especially for Sunday dinners when the whole family comes over. The best part? It’s vegan-friendly, making it perfect for everyone, including the vegans in our family.

The recipe comes from The Plant Based School, and while it says you don’t need to knead the dough or even touch it, I can’t resist getting my hands in there. Kneading the dough is so therapeutic! Trust me, once you try this, you’ll want to make it every week.

Ingredients for easiest focaccia bread recipe:

• 1¾ cups lukewarm water
• 2 teaspoons instant dry yeast (or substitute with active dry yeast)
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 4 cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour)
• 3 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (optional, plus 2 tablespoons to grease the baking pan or substitute with parchment paper)

Topping

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons water
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 5 sprigs rosemary
• Mini tomatoes
• Steamed Asparagus stalks (if desired)

Instructions:

Mix the Dough:

• In a small bowl, combine the lukewarm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.

• In a large bowl, Add the flour and 3 teaspoons of salt and mix until combined.

• Add the yeast mixture and 2 Tablespoons of olive oil to the flour and mix with a spoon until it comes together. The dough will be pretty sticky.

First Rise:

• Grease a large bowl with olive oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl and cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.
• Let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.

Tip- You can do a faster rise by turning the oven on to let it get warm but not too hot. Turn off the oven and place covered bowl in the oven and let the dough rise about an hour.

Prepare the baking pan

• Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).
• Grease a baking pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil or line it with parchment paper.

• Transfer the risen dough to the prepared baking pan.

• Gently spread it out to fit the pan, being careful not to deflate it too much. I tried this spoon method of spreading on the pan but I prefer using my hands.

Second Rise:

• Cover the dough again and let it rise for another 20-30 minutes until puffy
• After proofing, fold the dough with a spoon over itself 20 times (it takes 30 seconds) from the outside to the inside while still in the bowl. Or if you are like me knead it on a floured surface.

Top the Focaccia:

• In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 3 tablespoons of water, and ½ teaspoon of salt.
• Use your fingers to create dimples all over the surface of the dough. This is the fun part—kids love helping with this step!

• Now is the time to decorate your dough if desired. I used sliced mini tomatoes and aparagus spears and of course rosemary springs.

• Drizzle the olive oil mixture evenly over the dough.

Bake:

• Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the focaccia is golden brown and the edges are crispy.
• Let it cool slightly before cutting into squares and serving.

Tips for the Easiest Perfect Focaccia bread:

• Temperature Matters: Make sure your water is lukewarm, not hot, to activate the yeast properly.
• Resting Time: Allowing the dough to rest and rise twice ensures a fluffy and airy texture.
• Toppings: Feel free to get creative with the toppings. Cherry tomatoes, olives, basil or other fresh herbs, caramelized onions are great additions.

This focaccia is a hit every time I make it. It’s soft with crispy a crispy crust. Very flavorful plus, it’s a breeze to whip up! Making it ideal for busy weeknights and weekends. Serve it as an appetizer, side dish, or even as a sandwich bread.

Happy baking, and enjoy your time with family and friends around the table!

Buon appetito!

More Italian Recipes

If you try the easiest focaccia bread recipe, let me know how it turns out in the comments below. And if you have any tips or variations, I’d love to hear them!

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