This focaccia bread recipe is perfect for bread machine enthusiasts. It produces a soft, flavorful bread with a golden crust, ideal for sandwiches or as a side dish.
Using a bread machine simplifies the process, allowing you to enjoy homemade focaccia with minimal effort. Customize it with toppings like rosemary, olives, or sun-dried tomatoes to enhance the flavor.
Understanding Focaccia Bread
Focaccia is a traditional Italian bread known for its soft, airy texture and delightful flavor. This flatbread is often topped with various ingredients, but the classic version features fresh rosemary and coarse sea salt.
The golden-brown crust and fluffy interior make it a versatile choice for many meals. It can be served as a side dish, used for sandwiches, or simply enjoyed on its own with a drizzle of olive oil.
Making focaccia at home can be a rewarding experience, especially when using a bread machine to simplify the process. This method allows for a consistent texture and flavor without the need for extensive kneading or monitoring.
Ingredients for Perfect Focaccia
The beauty of focaccia lies in its simplicity. The basic ingredients include warm water, olive oil, bread flour, salt, sugar, and active dry yeast.
These elements come together to create a dough that rises beautifully, resulting in a light and airy loaf.
While the classic version is topped with rosemary and sea salt, feel free to experiment with other toppings like olives or sun-dried tomatoes for added flavor.
Using a Bread Machine
One of the most convenient ways to make focaccia is by using a bread machine. This appliance takes care of the mixing and kneading, allowing you to focus on the fun parts, like choosing your toppings.
Simply add the ingredients in the correct order, select the dough cycle, and let the machine do the work.
Once the dough is ready, you can shape it, let it rise, and prepare it for baking. This method is perfect for those who want homemade bread without the hassle.
Shaping and Rising the Dough
After the dough has been mixed, it’s time to shape it. Transfer the dough to a greased baking sheet or a parchment-lined pan.
Form it into a rectangle, ensuring it is evenly spread out. Cover it with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm spot until it doubles in size.
This second rise is crucial for achieving that soft, fluffy texture that focaccia is known for.
Baking to Perfection
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) before baking. Once the dough has risen, use your fingers to create dimples on the surface.
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse sea salt and any additional herbs you desire.
Bake for about 20-25 minutes until the focaccia is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Serving Suggestions
Once baked, allow the focaccia to cool slightly before slicing. This bread is best enjoyed warm or at room temperature.
Serve it alongside a small bowl of olive oil for dipping, garnished with a sprig of rosemary for a touch of elegance.
Its versatility makes it a perfect accompaniment to soups, salads, or as part of a charcuterie board.
Bread Machine Focaccia Recipe
This focaccia bread is made with simple ingredients and takes about 3 hours from start to finish, including rising time. The recipe yields one large loaf, perfect for sharing.
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water (110°F to 115°F)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- Toppings: Coarse sea salt, fresh rosemary, or other herbs (optional)
Instructions
- Add Ingredients: Pour the warm water and olive oil into the bread machine pan. Add the bread flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in that order.
- Select Cycle: Choose the ‘Dough’ cycle on your bread machine and start it. Allow the machine to mix and knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Once the cycle is complete, remove the dough from the pan and shape it into a rectangle. Place it on a greased baking sheet or a parchment-lined pan.
- Second Rise: Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 30-45 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Use your fingers to dimple the surface of the dough, then drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse sea salt and herbs if desired.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the focaccia is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the focaccia to cool slightly before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Servings: 12 slices
- Calories: 180kcal
- Fat: 4g
- Protein: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
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