Roasted Garlic Focaccia is a delicious and versatile Italian focaccia recipe that is the perfect accompaniment to soups, stews, and meats. This fluffy and airy bread is topped with roasted garlic cloves, cherry tomatoes, and a drizzle of olive oil, creating a mouthwatering combination of flavors and textures.
With this delicious and versatile Italian focaccia recipe, you can enjoy a homemade Italian bread that's perfect for any occasion.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
You'll love this Roasted Garlic Focaccia recipe because it's effortless to make and delivers incredible flavor. The combination of fluffy dough, roasted garlic, and juicy cherry tomatoes creates a mouthwatering and satisfying experience.
Plus, it's incredibly versatile, perfect for serving as a side dish, appetizer, or even a main course. Get ready to impress your friends and family with this delicious and easy-to-make bread.
Ingredients You'll Need
This Italian focaccia recipe is so simple to make, and you probably have the ingredients in your pantry already. You'll need flour, olive oil, salt, a whole garlic bulb, active yeast, and water. That's it, for one of the quickest and fluffiest breads you'll ever make!
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make This Italian Focaccia Recipe
To create a perfect focaccia, start by combining flour, yeast, warm water, olive oil, and salt to form a dough. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Once risen, punch it down and roll it out into a rectangle.
Place the dough on a greased baking sheet and dimple the top with your fingers. Add your favorite toppings, such as roasted garlic, cherry tomatoes, or herbs. Brush the dough with olive oil and bake until golden brown and cooked through.
Roast the Garlic
- Preheat the oven to 400℉. Cut the top off a head of garlic and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Wrap with foil and baked for 35-45 minutes until browned and fragrant.
Mix the Focaccia Dough
- In a large bowl combine 1 ⅓ cup warm water with ¼ cup of the flour. Stir to dissolve. Sprinkle the yeast on top and set aside to get foamy, about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in the rest of the flour, olive oil, and salt. Mix in until a dough forms.
- Turn out on a very lightly floured surface. Knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and stretchy.
- Place in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel. Allow to rise until a little over doubled (60-90 minutes depending on the ambient temperature).
- While the dough is rising, prep the toppings. When the garlic is cool enough to handle, use a blunt knife or peel and squeeze out the roasted cloves. Try to keep them as intact as possible. Slice the tomatoes in half. Finely chop the rosemary.
Assemble The Focaccia Bread
- Add ¼ cup olive oil to a 9”x13” baking pan. Spread out evenly and place the dough in. Turn over several times to completely cover in oil. Stretch out with your fingers to the corners.
- Cover again and allow to rise until 1.5x the size (30-60 minutes). While rising, heat the oven to 450°F.
- Using oiled fingers, push lots of dimples into the dough. Press cloves (or small bits) of roasted garlic into some of the dimples. Press the halved tomatoes in cut side up. Sprinkle with chopped rosemary and salt.
Bake and Serve
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden brown and very firm.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack and cooling at least another 20 minutes before cutting and serving.
Serving Suggestions
Roasted Garlic Focaccia is a versatile bread that can be enjoyed in many ways. Serve it as a side dish with soups, stews, or salads. Use it as an appetizer with dips or spreads. Create a delicious sandwich using focaccia as the bread.
For a truly indulgent experience, top with melted cheese, fresh basil, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. No matter how you choose to serve it, Roasted Garlic Focaccia is sure to be a hit.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations or substitutions when making this focaccia recipe.
- Experiment with different toppings, such as sun-dried tomatoes, olives, or fresh herbs.
- Add grated Parmesan cheese or mozzarella cheese for a cheesy twist.
- Salty Kalamata olives instead of the cherry tomatoes makes a fabulous focaccia variation.
- Drizzle with balsamic vinegar or honey for a sweet and tangy flavor.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips for making this focaccia bread recipe:
- Use a good quality olive oil for the best flavor.
- Avoid overcrowding the focaccia with toppings, as this can prevent the dough from rising properly.
- Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place.
Related Recipes
- Italian Panettone (Christmas Bread)
- Everyday Challah Rolls
- Honey Wheat Bread Machine Recipe
- Homemade Soft Flour Tortillas
- Apple Filled Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this dish.
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Storage Options
- Store leftover focaccia in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- To freeze, wrap the focaccia tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheat leftover focaccia by wrapping it in foil and warming it in a low-temperature oven until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment to make the dough.
The focaccia is done when the crust is golden brown and the dough sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Yes, you can freeze the focaccia dough before shaping and baking. Thaw it completely in the refrigerator before proceeding with the recipe.
Use something else! Drained Kalamata olives are a delicious alternative, or simply some fresh basil leaves.
More Bread Recipes
- Hungarian Nut Roll Recipe
- Pan de Muertos (Day of The Dead Bread)
- Italian Panettone (Christmas Bread)
- Jewish Shabbat Challah
Roasted Garlic Focaccia
Equipment
Ingredients
Roasted garlic:
- 1 head garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Dough:
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon coarse salt
Topping:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 ounces cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- ½ teaspoon coarse salt
Instructions
Roast the Garlic
- Preheat the oven to 400℉. Cut the top off a head of garlic and drizzle with 1 tbsp/15ml olive oil. Wrap with foil and baked for 35-45 minutes until browned and fragrant.
Mix the Focaccia Dough
- In a large bowl combine 1 ⅓ cup warm water with ¼ cup of the flour. Stir to dissolve. Sprinkle the yeast on top and set aside to get foamy, about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in the rest of the flour, olive oil, and salt. Mix in until a dough forms.
- Turn out on a very lightly floured surface. Knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and stretchy.
- Place in an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel. Allow to rise until a little over doubled (60-90 minutes depending on the ambient temperature).
Prepare the Toppings
- While the dough is rising, prep the toppings. When the garlic is cool enough to handle, use a blunt knife or peel and squeeze out the roasted cloves. Try to keep them as intact as possible. Slice the tomatoes in half. Finely chop the rosemary.
Assemble and Bake
- Add ¼ cup olive oil to a 9”x13” baking pan. Spread out evenly and place the dough in. Turn over several times to completely cover in oil. Stretch out with your fingers to the corners.
- Cover again and allow to rise until 1.5x the size (30-60 minutes). While rising, heat the oven to 450°F.
- Using oiled fingers, push lots of dimples into the dough. Press cloves (or small bits) of roasted garlic into some of the dimples. Press the halved tomatoes in cut side up. Sprinkle with chopped rosemary and salt.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden brown and very firm.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack and cooling at least another 20 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
- Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese or crumbled feta over the focaccia before baking for an extra flavor boost.
- Experiment with different herbs like thyme, basil, or oregano for a unique twist.
- Add other roasted vegetables like red onions, bell peppers, or zucchini to the topping for a more flavorful focaccia.
- Salty Kalamata olives instead of the cherry tomatoes makes a fabulous focaccia also.
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