Idiot Proof One Day Focaccia Bread Recipe

Yes I'm the idiot! I've tried and failed with focaccia bread on multiple occasions, I'm not proud to admit it's been my nemesis (or one of them 🫣) My first attempt ended up looking like a large biscuit and would definitely have resulted in a visit to the dentist if anyone had been brave enough to try it. Subsequently my creations have ranged from equally flat to burnt to a cinder and all the hopeless, disastrous textures in between.

But suddenly I was saved by a friend, amused at my desperation but showing up like true friends do with a one day recipe which was truly a game changer. At every step I assumed, ever the pessimist, that it would fail like the others but unbelievably it came out of the oven looking splendid and even more unbelievably was actually edible!!

I would be understating the situation if I said I did a little dance and mentioned it to my partner once or twice. Frankly there are now raised eyes if I mention Focaccia in any sentence. But I'm proud of my win and make no apologies.

Anyway for any other idiots like me out there about to give up, here's the recipe. May the force be with you as it was with me 😊

Measurements:

500g White Bread Flour
410ml Warm Water
15ml (1 Tablespoon) extra virgin olive oil
6g Instant Yeast
5g (1 Teaspoon) honey
10g (2 Teaspoons) sea salt plus extra for topping
2 Tablespoons chopped rosemary
Extra virgin olive oil for the pan and to drizzle

Method:

🧑🏻‍🍳 Whisk together warm water, olive oil, honey and yeast. Stir in bread flour and salt and mix well to form a dough.

🧑🏻‍🍳 Cover and rest at room temperature for 15 mins 

🧑🏻‍🍳 Stretch & fold the dough for a couple of mins, working your way around the sides

🧑🏻‍🍳 Cover and rest again for 15 mins 

🧑🏻‍🍳 Repeat the stretch & folds then cover at room temp for 1.5 hours

🧑🏻‍🍳 Drizzle some olive oil in a 20cm x 30cm non stick metal baking tray and then line with parchment paper, coating the top with the 3 tablespoons of olive oil.

🧑🏻‍🍳 Lay the dough in the tray, fold one end over one third and then the other end over the first, turn 90 degrees and flip upside down. Cover with some oiled parchment paper and leave at room temperature for 1.5 hours

🧑🏻‍🍳 Preheat oven to 220C, placing the oven rack in the lowest position.

🧑🏻‍🍳 Remove the parchment paper and spread dough out to the edges. Scatter over the  chopped rosemary, drizzle over the olive oil and dimple with your fingers. Sprinkle sea salt generously over the dough

🧑🏻‍🍳 Bake for 18-24 mins on the lowest rack

Carefully take your amazing Focaccia out of the oven, do a little dance 💃🏻 🕺🏻 and bore everyone within earshot about your fantastic creation 🥱🫩😴

Lastly slice with love using your Bowmaster® bread knife 🥰