Focaccia is a very versatile traditional Italian bread. It is a typical recipe of Italian cuisine, an icon of the Mediterranean diet, of which, in addition, we can elaborate a multitude of versions. So, if you have already tried the traditional focaccia, the basic recipe, stay and see this garlic and rosemary focaccia. A delicious version with which to complete a snack dinner; or with which to accompany any meal.
Focaccias are a flatbread, somewhat taller than pizzas, also originating in Italy. It consists of a moist dough, made with flour, water, yeast and oil, a key ingredient in the focaccia. The dough is quite wet due to the use of oil. In addition, in the dough, we have to use more oil both on the table where we knead and in our hands to prevent it from sticking too much. But, also before baking we have to add a little more oil. It may seem excessive, but I assure you that it is the key to get an authentic focaccia.
In addition, as we said, it is a super versatile recipe, of which we can find countless versions and add all kinds of ingredients. And, on the other hand, we can serve focaccia in many different ways. Just like any other bread. For example, we can use focaccia to accompany any main dish, for an appetizer with creams or spreads, to accompany a board of cold meats and cheeses?
There are even those who use it for sandwiches. Cut it in half lengthwise and fill it with your favorite ingredients to make a great focaccia sandwich.
Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia Recipe
To make this Italian bread we will follow the same recipe as for the classic focaccia. We will prepare the dough, combining flour of force and common wheat flour, in addition to yeast, sugar, salt and water. When the dough is ready, we start kneading for at least 10 minutes. We will have to knead until it has a smooth and homogeneous texture.
The rest of the recipe is exactly the same. Until the moment when we put the dough in a mold, where we are going to bake our focaccia. After making the respective holes with our fingers, we put the garlic, finely chopped and spread over the entire surface of the focaccia, and rosemary, which can be dry or fresh, your choice.
Now all that remains is to bake it until it is ready. Remember to let it cool on the oven rack to prevent it from becoming too soft.
Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Strong flour
- 2 Cups common wheat flour
- 1 tsp dry yeast
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 & 1/2 Cup water
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary or 1 tablespoon if dried rosemary
- 4 Garlic cloves
- Coarse salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Mix the two flours previously sifted with the salt. We make a hole in the middle and add the water, where we will have dissolved the yeast, we also add the sugar.2 Cups Strong flour, 2 Cups common wheat flour, 1 tsp Sugar, 1 tsp Salt, 1 & 1/2 Cup water, 1 tsp dry yeast
- We begin to knead, inside the bowl, for about 10 minutes. It is normal that at the beginning it will be difficult to work, because being a wet dough it will stick a lot. Continue kneading until you get a homogeneous and smooth dough.
- When we have achieved a homogeneous dough, on a smooth surface, we continue kneading. To do this we have to grease the work surface with some oil and continue kneading until we get an elastic and smooth texture.Extra virgin olive oil
- We put it in a bowl again, previously greased, and cover it with a damp kitchen towel. Let stand between 1 h and an hour and a half.
- After this time, we grease well the tray where we are going to bake the focaccia. For these quantities, it should be a rectangular tray. We also grease our hands with some oil and place the dough. We spread it on the tray but delicately and carefully so as not to flatten it.Brush it with oil and let it rest again for half an hour.Extra virgin olive oil
- Preheat the oven to 480ºF. Spread the dough again, very gently and without touching the edges of the mold. Brush again with oil and make some holes with your fingers, all over the surface.Extra virgin olive oil
- Add a little more oil and let it rest for 10 minutes.Now add the finely chopped or sliced garlic (your choice), and also the rosemary. Press lightly, add more oil to the surface and let stand for 10 minutes.Extra virgin olive oil
- After that time, add oil again and a little coarse salt, and bake for 5 minutes. After that time, lower the oven temperature to 430ºF and continue baking for 15-20 minutes.Extra virgin olive oil, Coarse salt
- After this time, add again a drizzle of oil all over the surface (as soon as you take it out of the oven) and let it rest for 5 minutes. Remove from the mold and let it cool on a wire rack.Your homemade focaccia is ready.
Nutrition
How to serve Focaccia
This preparation is a bread, so we can use it as we would any other bread. Either to accompany other dishes, or for a lunch or dinner snack, to serve with creams and purees, with spreads … We have many options. So let’s take a look at some of them:
- As an accompaniment to main dishes. For example, soups, salads, meat or fish dishes… Serve the focaccia cut in slices to complement any of your favorite dishes.
- As a starter or appetizer. This bread is perfect to accompany beer or wine at aperitif time. Especially if served with some dipping sauces, hummus, or just a drizzle of olive oil or balsamic vinegar.
- To make sandwiches or sandwiches. Cut the garlic and rosemary focaccia in half, horizontally, and fill it with as many ingredients as you like. You will get a delicious sandwich.
- Use it to prepare bruschettas or toasts. Cut it into slices and put as many ingredients as you want on top. For example, a few slices of tomato, basil, grated cheese?
- Or, if you want the focaccia to take center stage and be the main ingredient, accompany it with some cold meats or assorted cheeses, as an appetizer.
However, these are not the only uses we can give to the focaccia, because, as we said, it is very versatile. And it will be great to accompany all kinds of dishes.
If you dare to prepare this garlic and rosemary focaccia yourself, remember to leave us your comments, ideas, tips… We love to read you! You can also follow us on social networks to keep up to date with all our publications. You will find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
