Focaccia bread is the Italian form of bread that is highly admired on social media these days. From moms to teenagers who love to enjoy the unique flavors of the bread in the meals, Focaccia is the favorite choice of everyone around.
But what is this Italian bread made of, and why is this the new sensation for food lovers and cooks? Let’s have a look at the details of this bread and a little history lesson before we start to look up the recipe for this Italian homemade bread.
What is Focaccia Bread?
Focaccia bread is a golden and soft bread. It is flat in shape and has a bubbly texture, and is crisp on the inside because of its airy interior. The bread has a savory flavor that melts into the mouth because of the use of herbs and other ingredients.
Focaccia bread is also known for its vast choice of versatile toppings. People use several dried herbs, sun-dried tomatoes, and even salt and pepper to decorate their favorite bread.
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Origin of Italian Homemade Focaccia Bread
Many historians believe this bread is older than the Roman Empire, and it originated from North Central Italy during the period of ancient Greece. Now this is fascinating because this makes the Italian Homemade Bread an old piece on the table.
The bread actually goes back to 7000 BC, but the Romans were the first ones to adopt this recipe. So it belongs to them now.
Homemade Italian Guide to Easy Focaccia Bread
There is nothing healthier than homemade bread. Because who doesn’t like the fresh and aromatic homemade bread for breakfast? Also, it is an ideal fit for all those baking lovers who like to try new things every day but want to enjoy the authentic experiences of cooking the real recipes.
The Italian tips for Homemade Focaccia bread
- One of the biggest secrets of this bread is that it is a high-hydration bread, which is fermented really well in the fridge before baking.
- This long rest goes up to two days to ensure a fully airy texture of the bread while baking.
- Also, the dough of Focaccia bread is not kneaded like regular bread.
- It is mixed generously to restore the slow gluten rise during long rest periods before baking.
- Another secret that makes it special and distinguished from other breads is the use of multiple toppings to form a variety of unique tastes.
Recipe of Easy Italian Homemade Focaccia Bread
- 4 Cups of All-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cups of lukewarm water
- ½ teaspoon of instant yeast
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- 2 teaspoons of sugar to help the yeast rise properly
- 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- Toppings of your choice, like rosemary, thyme, garlic, tomatoes, or even sea salt
These ingredients bring together the easiest and perfect homemade Italian bread. The recipe contains the basics like all other breads. It’s just the process of baking and toppings that make a Focaccia bread different from other breads.
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Instructions
Step 1:
Put the yeast, sugar, and warm water in a big bowl and mix them. After you stir it a few times, wait 5 minutes.
Step 2:
Mix 4 cups of flour and 2 tablespoons of olive oil into the bowl with the yeast. The flour should be stirred three to four times until it has become moist. Wait five more minutes.
Step 3:
You can mix everything nicely and knead it lightly for about 10 to 15 times, just to give it a good shape. And this is the step where the dough sometimes does not get a shape that is good enough to knead nicely. But you don’t need to worry because eventually it will all come together in a soft and crispy homemade Italian bread.
Step 4:
Now you can store the dough in the refrigerator for a night or for 18 hours at least. This is the Focaccia part, where you need to be patient because Italian homemade Focaccia bread requires a long time to rise in cool temperatures, and this is what distinguishes it from other breads, which are made in 2-3 hours.
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Step 5:
In a cold medium-sized pan, mix together the black pepper, crushed garlic, thyme, rosemary, or any toppings of your choice, and olive oil. Put the pan over low heat and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring every now and then, until the smell is nice. You don’t need to change the color of the garlic, so stick to light golden. Keep the heat low and take the pan off the heat before the garlic turns brown. Put it somewhere and let it cool.
Step 6:
Before starting the baking, transfer the dough to a flat baking pan, drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and knead it slightly with your fingers to give it a good airy texture. You have to let the dough sit for 15-20 minutes before baking. After that, you can add those previously cooked toppings to the bread.
Step 7:
The baking is the easiest step of this Italian homemade bread, even though it takes a little longer to make you wait. All you have to do is preheat your oven to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes. Then you put your dough in it and let it bake for about 20 minutes. The bread will be ready.
Step 8:
The bread will be perfectly baked into a crispy and sizzling sponge at this point. Let it cool for about 30 minutes before cutting and slicing it.
These simple steps ensure a perfect Italian Homemade Focaccia Bread, which is closer to an authentic Italian Homemade recipe in taste and style. So now you can enjoy your favorite bread at home whenever you like. This easy guide will bring forth a perfect Focaccia bread in just twenty minutes of baking.
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So next time, whenever your taste buds demand a savory flavor of a flatbread, you know how to do it.
