My soft, airy and chewy focaccia is studded with savoury sundried tomatoes, salty olives and fragrant rosemary.
Note – This recipe has been updated from the archives – first published in March 2010. The recipe remains the same but I’ve added new images and helpful content.
Very few things beat the smell of fresh bread coming out of the oven. I normally let my bread dough rise in the Instant Pot (because it’s just so quick and easy), but with the warm weather lately — and inspiration following a trip to Italy — this felt like the perfect recipe to revisit and share!
I've made a few focaccia recipes on here, like this red grape and goat cheese focaccia so I've decided to follow the same fool-proof recipe.
The only difference really I've made to this recipe is added more extra virgin olive oil because it adds so much more flavour and makes the top beautifully crisp.
This is a rustic Italian bread that’s all about flavour and texture — savoury, airy and golden on the edges. The focaccia dough is soft, manageable, and rises beautifully. With the right layering of Mediterranean flavours and plenty of EVOO, it's a bakery-style homemade focaccia with toppings. The base isn't soggy and the focaccia is perfectly chewy.
Use it as a base to prepare focaccia pizza. Yum!
As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!
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Sundried Tomato, Olive and Rosemary Focaccia
Equipment
- oven
- Baking tin Tray
Ingredients
- 450 gram bread flour
- 1 teaspoon fast-action yeast
- 1 tablespoon caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 350 ml warm water
- 5 tablespoon olive oil plus more for greasing and drizzling
Topping
- sun-dried tomatoes roughly chopped
- pitted olives halved if large
- rosemary sprigs
- sea salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Stir everything together with a spoon to evenly distribute the dry ingredients.
- Next, pour in the warm water and stir until a sticky dough begins to form. You can switch to using your hands at this point, kneading it briefly until the dough comes together and starts to feel smoother. If you prefer using a stand mixer, mix on low for a minute or two—this dough doesn’t need extensive kneading.
- Drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil into a clean bowl and turn the dough in the oil until coated. Shape it into a rough ball, cover the bowl tightly with clingfilm, and set it aside somewhere warm and draft-free until it doubles in size—this usually takes 1 to 2 hours. (Alternatively, you can proof the dough in an Instant Pot if preferred.)
- Once the dough has risen, lightly oil a baking tray and transfer the dough to it. Use your fingers to gently stretch the dough to fit the tray. Don’t worry if it doesn’t reach the edges perfectly—it will expand slightly during the second rise.
- Cover the tray with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rise again for around 30 minutes. While that’s happening, preheat your oven to 220°C (Gas Mark 7 / 450°F).
- After the second rise, use your fingers to create dimples in the dough. Gently press sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and rosemary sprigs into the top of the dough. Drizzle with more olive oil.
- Cover the tray loosely with foil and bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove the foil, then continue baking for another 10 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
- Take the focaccia out of the oven, season with a bit of sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, and let it cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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Namitha says
Cool idea to use Pizza base mix 🙂 bread looks fabulous..I love focaccia bread too...
Bo says
This looks so delicious...I love focaccia! Great idea using the store bought mix.
Simplyfood says
I love reading your anecdotes about your travels.The bread looks delicious and very inviting.
Asha says
I love Focaccia, looks yum. I love to make sandwiches with this bread, so tasty.
Cool Lassi(e) says
Man I love this shortcut version. I too loved the focassia bread while I was touring in Italy last year. Thanks for sharing this short cut version.Certainly saves time from doing it from scratch!
Jyoti V says
Wow bread looks so colorful and yum...Loved to read ur stories..
Pari Vasisht says
hi. I love the Focaccia, and it's so thoughtful to use the pizza dough.Thebread looks amazing. I agree with Vanilla, u have an amazing speed of posting....I just can't do that fast.
Simply Life says
oh YUM! I would love to bite into that bread!
Sarah Naveen says
Such a flavorful and yummy bread..looks so delicious
Rachana says
I love Focaccia and after looking at your pic I feel like having it... and yes, the song " do lafzon ki hai" is one of fav... Italy is beautiful and has its own charm:)
♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ says
I love ur stori that leads u and ur family to love foccacia bread ...absolutely delightfull and am so awed by this bread...
Ur speed at posts is amzing i mus add...so muc of deliciousness ...almost everyday...cheers and happy day to u....
Priya Suresh says
Wwoww love this focaccia bread, wat a fantastic bread, love it..
Preeti Kashyap says
looks perfect!
Swathi says
Jagurti
Focaccia bread looks really good, wonderful you made with store bought pizza dough
Madhavi says
Bread looks great Jagruti!!!