Description
This Cheese & Herb Focaccia is a soft, fluffy Italian bread topped with gooey melted cheese and fragrant herbs. With its golden crust and rich flavor, it’s perfect as a side, appetizer, or snack—ideal for dipping, sharing, or enjoying on its own.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 12 oz (350ml) lukewarm water
- 2–3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 4 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic & herb seasoning
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
For the Topping:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ to ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 10 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
- 2–3 teaspoons cornmeal
Instructions
- Activate yeast:
- In a bowl, mix lukewarm water, sugar, and yeast.
- Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- Make the dough:
- Add olive oil, salt, flour, and seasonings.
- Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead:
- Knead on a floured surface for about 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First rise:
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled.
- Shape:
- Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F).
- Transfer dough to a greased baking tray.
- Stretch gently and dimple the surface with your fingers.
- Add toppings:
- Drizzle olive oil over the dough.
- Sprinkle salt, Parmesan cheese, and chopped basil.
- Lightly dust with cornmeal.
- Second rise:
- Let rest for 20–30 minutes.
- Bake:
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
- Serve:
- Cool slightly and enjoy warm.
Notes
- Use mozzarella for extra meltiness if desired.
- Add olives, cherry tomatoes, or chili flakes for variation.
- Don’t skip dimpling—it creates the classic focaccia texture.
- Best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated in the oven.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Bread / Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
Keywords: Cheese & Herb Focaccia, homemade focaccia, Italian bread, easy focaccia recipe