Focaccia Bread- Knead whole wheat pastry flour, active dry yeast, and warm water into an elastic-like dough. Flatten it out, drizzle some olive oil on top, season with fresh herbs, and bake until golden brown! You can use homemade focaccia bread to make sandwiches, a base for pizza, or serve as an appetizer with your favorite dipping sauces. This recipe is perfect for beginners.
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What Is Focaccia?
Focaccia is an Italian bread typically made with olive oil, salt, and herbs. The dough is usually fairly thick, and the finished bread is often relatively flat. It is often baked in a rectangular or oval shape, and the surface of the bread is often dimpled. Focaccia bread is believed to have originated in the region of Liguria in Italy. The word "focaccia" comes from the Latin word "focus," which means "hearth." The focaccia was traditionally cooked on a heated stone placed near the fire. Focaccia bread is now commonly found in bakeries all over Italy and around the world.
Focaccia bread is a delicious, versatile dish that can be enjoyed on its own or used as a base for other meals. Focaccia will hit the spot whether you're looking for a hearty side dish or a simple snack. This vegan version is made with herbs and olive oil, giving it a flavorful and satisfying taste. Focaccia bread is also relatively easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
Why You'll Love This Vegan Focaccia Recipe
Versatile- Good Focaccia can be enjoyed on its own or used as a base for other meals, such as pizza or sandwiches. It makes a great appetizer, side dish, or snack.
Freezes-Well- This vegan focaccia bread recipe makes a large batch, which is excellent for meal prep or feeding a crowd. You can freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months.
Easy to Make- This recipe is relatively simple and doesn't require any special ingredients or equipment. It's the perfect choice for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
Flavorful- Focaccia is made with herbs and olive oil, giving it a delicious and satisfying taste.
Family-Friendly- Vegan focaccia is a great choice for families because it's easy to make, and everyone can enjoy it.
Equipment Needed To Make Homemade Herb Focaccia
- Large Baking Sheet
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- 2 Large Mixing Bowls
- Dish Towel
- Cooling Rack
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients Needed For Herbed Focaccia Bread
- Active Dry Yeast
- Warm Water
- Sea Salt
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
- Nutritional Yeast
- Fresh Oregano
How To Make This Homemade Vegan Focaccia
Lightly grease a baking sheet and a medium-large bowl with olive oil and sit them aside. Whisk together the active dry yeast and warm water in a large bowl, then let it stand for 5-10 minutes.
While the yeast is activating in the water, add the flour and nutritional yeast to a large ungreased bowl and stir.
Stir salt and oil into the yeast and water mixture and combine well. Once it's well combined, add it to the large mixing bowl with the flour and mix until a dough is formed.
Lightly flour the kitchen counter and knead the dough until it is elastic-like. You may need to add extra flour to the dough while kneading to keep it from becoming too sticky. Form the dough into a ball and place it into the greased bowl. Roll it around in the bowl until the dough ball has been coated with the oil.
Cover the mixing bowl with a clean dish towel to allow the dough to rise for about 45 minutes. You want the dough to double in size.
Remove the dough and knead it a couple of times to remove any air.
Place the dough on the greased baking sheet and spread evenly pushing the dough close to the corners.
Cover the dough once more to rise for another hour.
Sprinkle a few tablespoons of olive oil over the bread and spread it over the dough. Dimple the bread lightly with your fingers without losing its rise. Add oregano and a pinch of salt before baking for about 20 minutes.
Once cooked, move the focaccia to a cooling rack before serving as desired.
What to Serve/Pair With Focaccia Bread With Herbs
Because of its versatility, you can use focaccia bread for many different purposes. It can be enjoyed on its own as a delicious and satisfying snack with your favorite dipping sauce. It can also be used as a base for other meals, such as pizzas or sandwiches. Focaccia bread is often served alongside soups or salads as a hearty and filling side dish.
Popular Substitutions & Additions
While this recipe is delicious, as written, there are a few ways to change it up to suit your taste.
- If you don't have whole wheat pastry flour, you can use all-purpose flour or bread flour instead.
- You can also add other herbs to the focaccia dough, such as rosemary or thyme.
- Add grated vegan parmesan to the dough for a cheesy flavor, or sprinkle it on top before baking.
- You can add honey or sugar to the dough if you want sweeter focaccia bread. Before baking, you can also top the bread with dried fruit or chocolate chips.
There are endless possibilities when making focaccia bread, so feel free to experiment and see what you come up with!
How To Store & Reheat Vegan Herb Focaccia
This vegan focaccia bread recipe is best enjoyed fresh, but it will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
If you want to reheat the bread, place it in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven for 5-10 minutes until warm. You can also reheat individual pieces in the microwave.
Vegan Focaccia Bread FAQs
Can homemade focaccia bread be frozen?
Yes, it can! This bread freezes well for up to 3 months. Be sure to wrap it tightly in a freezer-safe wrap or place it in a freezer-safe bag before freezing.
How do I know when my focaccia bread is done baking?
Focaccia bread is ready to take out of the oven when it is golden brown and firm to the touch. You can also insert a toothpick into the center of the bread to check for doneness. If the toothpick comes out clean, the bread is done.
Is focaccia bread vegan?
This vegan focaccia bread recipe, as it does not contain eggs or dairy. However, only some recipes for focaccia bread are vegan, so be sure to check the ingredients list if you are unsure.
Can I make vegan focaccia gluten-free?
Yes, you can make gluten-free focaccia bread using a gluten-free flour blend instead of whole wheat pastry flour.
Is there something I can use in place of the active dry yeast?
If you don't have yeast, you can substitute baking powder or baking soda. However, the bread will not be as fluffy and will have a slightly different flavor.
📋 Recipe
Vegan Focaccia Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons Active Dry Yeast - from a jar or 1 packet
- 1 ½ cups warm water, 100-110°
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 tablespoon Nutritional Yeast (this is if you are vegan and want to add the extra protein & nutrients, it is not for leavening)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano but preferably fresh oregano, ⅛ cup chopped
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 10" x 15" baking sheet with olive oil.
- Lightly oil a medium to large bowl for your dough to rise after kneading. Set aside.
- Have the warm water in a bowl and make sure that it is the correct temperature. You can zap it in the microwave again and 'take it's temperature'.
- When the water is at 100° to 110° pour in the yeast.
- Stir and let stand 5 to 10 minutes.
- Put the flour and nutritional yeast in a large bowl - not the oiled one.
- Add salt and oil to the yeast mixture and stir.
- Add to the bowl of flour.
- Stir and then dump on a lightly floured cool board or counter.
- Knead about 5 to 10 times until the dough is elastic. You will need to add extra flour as you knead until it is not TOO sticky. You will be able to remove your hand without dough left on your fingers and palms.
- Form into a ball.
- Place in your oiled bowl and turn the dough to get oil on all sides.
- Cover with a clean dish towel and let rise 45 min. to 1 hour until it doubles.
- Remove the dough and knead 2 to 3 times to remove the air.
- Lay the ball on the prepared baking pan and push the dough close to the corners with your fingers.
- Cover and let rise another hour.
- Sprinkle 3 Tablespoons olive oil over the bread and smooth around.
- Dimple the bread lightly with your fingertips. You don't want to lose it's 'rise'.
- Sprinkle on the oregano and just a pinch more of sea salt..
- Bake at 425° for 20 minutes.
- Let cool a bit and then remove to a rack.
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Notes
- Can you freeze focaccia?
- This loaf or slices can be refrigerated for a couple of weeks or frozen for about 6 months.
- FREEZING:
- After the focaccia has cooled you may freeze it as a whole loaf or in slices in a freezer bag or hard sided freezer safe glass container.
- DEFROSTING:
- It will defrost quickly so it really doesn't take any planning.
Chandice Probst
Oh my goodness, perfect focaccia every time! Love how easy to follow it is too thanks so much!
Heidy M
I feel in love with this Focaccia Bread when I made it the other day and have decided to make another batch to freeze for another day. Great recipe!
Ricky
This looks delicious!
Have you tried gluten-free? Do you think it would work, and if so, which flours would you use?
Tks and congrats!!
Ginny McMeans
I have not tried it but I think it will work fine if you buy one of those 1:1 flour mixes for gluten-free baking. Bob's Red Mill and Arrowhead Mills have one. I'm sure there are other brands too. Thank you!