Photo of a focaccia

Focaccia

Based on this recipe by Paul Hollywood.

This focaccia recipe is easy to make and easy to adapt with whatever herbs you have in the house.

  • Prep time: 2 hours
  • Cook time: 1 hours
  • Yield: Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

  • 500g strong white flour
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 sachet (7g) dried easy blend yeast
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 400ml cold water
  • olive oil, for drizzling
  • fine sea salt

Steps

  • Place the flour, salt, yeast, olive oil and 300ml/10½fl oz of the water into a large bowl. Gently stir with your hand or a wooden spoon to form a dough, then knead the dough in the bowl for five minutes, gradually adding the remaining water.
  • Stretch the dough by hand in the bowl, tuck the sides into the centre, turn the bowl 90 degrees and repeat the process for about five minutes.
  • Tip the dough onto an oiled work surface and continue kneading for five more minutes. Return the dough to the bowl, cover and leave to rise until doubled in size.
  • Line a large baking tray with baking paper. Tip the dough out of the bowl and flatten the dough onto the prepared tray, pushing to the corners, cover with a large plastic bag, making sure it does not touch the top of the dough, then leave to prove for one hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7. Drizzle the loaves with oil, sprinkle with fine sea salt then bake in the oven for 20 minutes. When cooked, drizzle with a little more olive oil and serve hot or warm.