Herb Focaccia Recipe

I recently purchased a kitchen scale, and it has completely changed the game when it comes to testing and developing recipes. My newest culinary gadget has been such a gamechanger that I am quickly forgetting the many years I spent guesstimating measurements and eyeballing ingredients. This has been especially true for simple yet finicky recipes, such as bread dough, which seemed to never yield the same results twice. With my measuring cups and spoons in the rearview—although they will always hold a nostalgic place in my heart—I’ve been making batch after batch of a deliciously versatile bread that has quickly become a weekly staple in my house: focaccia.

Bubbly and crispy on the outside, chewy and airy on the inside, focaccia is one of those dishes that is a crowd pleaser for any setting or season. Hosting a sunny backyard barbecue or need a dish to bring to a cozy indoor potluck? Focaccia to the rescue! Seeking an easy, meal-prep friendly bread to munch on throughout the week, or simply just need something comforting to settle those rainy day carb cravings? You guessed it—focaccia is the answer for all occasions. I’m always impressed by how just a bit of yeast, flour, and water rise up into such a delicious bread, and now that I’ve honed in on my favorite focaccia recipe, it would be a crime against baking to keep all to myself.  

Boasting a golden, olive oil-kissed crust and speckled with fragrant herbs such as nettle, basil, and rosemary, this focaccia recipe requires minimal effort but delivers maximum flavor. Slice it into squares for easy sharing, tear it apart family-style (or solo-style, I don’t judge), serve it alongside your favorite soups and spreads, or all of the above. However you choose to savor it, this versatile recipe showcases what just a few simple, quality ingredients and a touch of precision can do for the taste buds. Rain or shine, indoors or out, you’ll be sure to return to this focaccia recipe whenever life calls for a consistently delicious dish, again and again. 

Herb Focaccia Recipe

Makes a 9 x 12 focaccia sheet.

Ingredients

• 2 cups (256 grams) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (256 grams) bread flour
• 3 tsp. (15 grams) fine sea salt
• 1 tsp. organic US Grown nettle
• 1 tsp. organic basil
• 1 tsp. organic rosemary
• 1/2 tsp. organic thyme
• 1/2 tsp. organic oregano
• 2 tsp. (8 grams) active dry yeast
• 2 cups (455 g) lukewarm water
• 6–7 Tbsp. organic extra virgin olive oil, divided
• Coarse sea salt or French grey sea salt

Directions

1. To a large bowl, combine flours, salt, and dried herbs. Set aside.
2. Proof yeast by adding lukewarm water to a bowl and sprinkle active dry yeast over top. Stir to combine and allow to sit for 10–15 minutes until bubbly and frothy. *See Pro Tips
3. Creating a well in the center of the flour mixture, pour in proofed liquid and mix with a spatula until sticky dough balls forms.
4. Cover dough and allow to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes to allow the gluten to relax.
5. After 20 minutes, use a wet hand to stretch and fold the dough about 10 times, working from the outside in. Cover once more and repeat steps 4–5. The dough will go from loose and sticky to uniform and smooth, which makes for bigger bubbles!
6. Once the dough has been rested, stretched, and folded twice, drizzle about half the olive oil on top of the dough. Use your hand to spread oil out evenly, ensuring the entire surface of the dough is slicked with oil.
7. Cover and place in the fridge. This is where the long and slow fermentation process will take place!
8. Allow dough to chill in the fridge for at least 24 hours, but optimally 36–48 hours and up to 72 hours. The longer you allow the dough to ferment, the more flavorful, chewy, and bubbly your focaccia will be.
9. Once the dough has been properly chilled, remove from fridge and transfer to a 9 in. x 12 in. baking pan (I used a Pyrex baking dish) greased with a good amount olive oil or butter to prevent sticking.
10. Cover with a tea towel and allow to rest at room temperature for 3–4 hours or until about doubled in size. After the final rise, preheat oven to 425°F.
11. Now for the fun part: dimpling! Drizzle a few tablespoons of olive oil on top of the dough and grease your hands. Gently squish your fingertips into the dough to create dimples.
12. Transfer to oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before transferring to a cutting board or wire rack to fully cool.
13. Sprinkle with a generous amount of flaky or coarse sea salt. Slice, serve, and savor! See below for ideas on how to enjoy!
14. For storage, keep in an airtight bag at room temperature for 2–3 days or store in the freezer for 3–4 months. To reheat, simply place in oven set to 400°F for about 8-10 minutes.

Pro-Tips

• If you opt to use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast, skip step 2 in the directions and add the instant yeast in with the flour mixture in step 1, then follow directions as usual.
• I tested three different flour variations for this recipe: all-purpose flour, bread flour, and a 1:1 mixture of both. While there were subtle differences in the chewiness and crumb of each variation, I honestly wouldn’t be able to easily tell them apart in a blind taste test. If you don’t have bread flour or vice versa, just use whatever one you have on hand! Please note that whole-wheat flour or gluten-free flours will not work with this recipe.
  
  

Try pairing focaccia With : 

Soups & Salads

Dips & Spreads

Creative Toppings

Herbal Salt Blends: 4 Recipes
Spicy Quick Pickled Red Onions
Dukkah Seasoning Recipes & Uses
Flavors of the Rainbow: DIY Herbal Finishing Salts

Switch it up with these other flavor variations!

• Everything bagel focaccia with organic everything bagel seasoning
• Hot and smoky focaccia topped with organic hot smoked sea salt
• Lebanese-inspired focaccia with organic Za’atar seasoning
• Dessert focaccia with organic vanilla extract (or flavor extract of choice) topped with cinnamon sugar

Hungry for the perfect focaccia pairing?

Check out our Golden Soup Recipe!

You may also be interested in:

5-Seed Irish Soda Bread (with Vegan Variation!)
Organic Spinach Powder Benefits + Pizza Crust Recipe
Herb-Infused Goat Cheese Marinade & Olive Oil Bread Dip