How to make Focaccia Bread

Focaccia bread is an Italian flat bread with Garlic and herbs, baked in an oven and it is generally topped with fresh herbs or olives and cherry tomatoes too. The very first time i got tasted Focaccia bread in Singapore is the store bought Gardernia bran Focaccia bread. A friend of us bought this for us once, as we were new to Singapore and asked us to try it out. It was 10 years back and the kids were small and they didn't like the taste of the bread. Later i never attempted to buy it or make it at home. Recently one of our best friend, who is a very good baker, made this focaccia bread and send me a picture of the bread too. I got too much tempted and i decided to try this out. The recipe i adapted from here. As the tastes change over a period, the first  bake of focaccia bread is a super hit at home. I shared my first attempt in my instagram story too. I made this again yesterday for kids and clicked the step by pictures on how to make focaccia bread, the original recipe adapted from here. The bread turned out super soft and moist and we all loved it.

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Focaccia bread recipe

Recipe Cuisine: Indian|  Recipe Category: Lunch | Dinner
Prep Time: 15 mins + 1 hr resting time  |  Baking time: 25 mins |  Serves: 4 | Author: Jeyashri 
Focaccia bread is an Italian flat bread, baked in an oven and it is generally topped with fresh herbs or olives and cherry tomatoes too.

    All purpose flour  2 and 1/2 cups
    Active dry yeast  2.5 tsp
    Warm water  1 cup
    Salt  as needed
    Honey   1/4 tsp
    Garlic  2 cloves
    Coriander leaves   few
    Oregano  2 pinches
    Red chili flakes  2 pinches
    Black pepper powder   1/4 tsp
    Olive oil  1/2 cup

Method:

• In a pan add the olive oil and finely chopped garlic, chopped coriander leaves, red chili flakes and dried herbs.
• Heat this for a 2 minutes, do not allow the garlic to change its colour.
• Switch off the flame and keep it aside. 
• In a wide bowl add the yeast and honey. 
• Add warm water to this. Ensure the water is warm, if it is hot the yeast will not proof.
• Mix well and keep it aside for 5 mins.
• The yeast must have proofed up by now. 
• If not do not proceed with the recipe. You yeast is not active. Try with new pack of yeast.
• Once the yeast is raised, add 1 cup of flour and 1/4 cup of the herb infused garlic oil to the bowl.
• I spooned most of the garlic pieces into the bowl.
• Mix well and leave it for 5 minutes.
• Now add the remaining 1 and 1/2 cup of flour. 
• Mix well and knead into a dough.
• Knead this for 5 minutes.
• Keep it covered using a damp cloth for an hour.
• The dough will be nicely raised by this time. 
• Grease a square baking tin and spread the dough on this.
• Spread evenly.
• With your fingers press down on the spread down, so that we can pour the remaining infused oil to this. 
• Pour the garlic herb oil on this evenly.
• Preheat the oven for 5 minutes at 160 degrees.
• Bake it for 25 minutes.
• Once done, allow this to cool completely.
• After 30 minutes, cut into squares. 
• You can store this in the refrigerator for 2 days. 

 
    

Method with step wise pictures:

• In a pan add the olive oil and finely chopped garlic, chopped coriander leaves, red chili flakes and dried herbs.
• Heat this for a 2 minutes, do not allow the garlic to change its colour.

• Switch off the flame and keep it aside. 
• In a wide bowl add the yeast and honey. 

• Add warm water to this. Ensure the water is warm, if it is hot the yeast will not proof.
• Mix well and keep it aside for 5 mins.
• The yeast must have proofed up by now. 
• If not do not proceed with the recipe. You yeast is not active. Try with new pack of yeast.
• Once the yeast is raised, add 1 cup of flour and 1/4 cup of the herb infused garlic oil to the bowl.

• I spooned most of the garlic pieces into the bowl.
• Mix well and leave it for 5 minutes.
• Now add the remaining 1 and 1/2 cup of flour. 
• Mix well and knead into a dough.
• Knead this for 5 minutes.

• Keep it covered using a damp cloth for an hour.
• The dough will be nicely raised by this time. 

• Grease a square baking tin and spread the dough on this.
• Spread evenly.
• With your fingers press down on the spread down, so that we can pour the remaining infused oil to this. 
• Pour the garlic herb oil on this evenly.
• Preheat the oven for 5 minutes at 160 degrees.
• Bake it for 25 minutes.

• Once done, allow this to cool completely.
• After 30 minutes, cut into squares. 

• You can store this in the refrigerator for 2 days. 

Notes:

1. You can add some sliced olives on the top of the bread.
2. Cherry tomatoes can be placed on the focaccia bread before baking.