Another of our Italian Staple weaknesses of ours is the Rosemary Focaccia Bread. Today I share with you my version of the famous focaccia bread recipe; after lots of trial and error, I am super pleased with it.
When all your Italian friends ask: Where did you get this focaccia? You can feel like you finally mastered your focaccia recipe!

Jump to:
🤔 What is Focaccia?
Focaccia is a flat oven-baked Italian bread similar in style and texture to pizza dough. It is naturally vegan, and you can use it as a side to many meals or as sandwich bread.
In Italy, it is even a snack. It is widespread to go into a bakery and ask for a piece of this delicious bread.
Italians consider Focaccia a Ligurian bread, but there are many different variations in Italy’s regions, which come with various ingredients commonly put on top.

There’s the Focaccia Alla Genovese, Focaccia al Rosmarino (Rosemary Focaccia Bread), Focaccia with Onions, Focaccia with Cheese, the list goes on and on.
The ones commonly found even in mainstream supermarkets are tomatoes, onions, or olive ones, which I recommend if you want to make an interesting variation.

As you may know, it is imperative to call things by their name in Italy, so many Italians would say that this is not a Focaccia, judging by their idea of a Focaccia. I am usually cautious with this, but today I am making an exception:
Simply because, just as with pizza, the versions are countless, so I am taking the liberty to call this: my Focaccia version.
🧾 Ingredients

- Bread wheat flour (0 Type, manitoba)
- Instant yeast (quick rise)
- Sea salt
- Brown sugar
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh rosemary (optional).
- Semolina (optional)
See quantities and complete instructions in the recipe card.
🔪 Instructions
How to Make the Perfect Focaccia? Making homemade focaccia bread is easy. There are just a couple of simple tricks that are important to keep in mind to be sure to succeed 100% of the time!
Make the yeast mixture.
Use a small bowl, add the yeast and brown sugar to the warm water, and let it rest for ten minutes.

Mix the dough ingredients
Use a large mixing bowl and add the yeast mixture to the bread flour, semolina, and olive oil. Once integrated, add the fine sea salt.


Mix and knead
Mix until you have a homogeneous dough and transfer to a lightly floured surface to knead and stretch the dough.
Continue kneading for fifteen minutes in total; until you have a soft, firm dough that doesn't stick to your fingers.


Separate in two balls and manage separately. Stretch each one as shown below.





First dough rise - 30 minutes
Divide into two dough balls and let the dough rise for 30 minutes while covered in a prepared pan with some olive oil and plastic in contact. The olive oil on top of the dough ball will prevent the plastic wrap from sticking to the dough. (Take a look at the recipe card for detailed instructions at the bottom of the page).


Second rise
Put the dough on a rectangle baking sheet, gently stretch it into a rectangle shape, press with your fingers, and cover it with some olive oil and fresh rosemary.
Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm room for one hour. Top with halved cherry tomatoes or even roasted garlic if you want. Get creative.




Bread baking
Pre-heated the oven at 480 ºF (250ºC). I like using my oven in fan mode to ensure the heat is even.
Sprinkle some extra virgin olive oil and flaky sea salt (coarse salt) and bake the focaccia for ten to fifteen minutes, until golden brown.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and wait about five minutes before removing it from the baking sheet.
Watch out! The focaccia dough will get golden brown quickly; don't leave the oven unattended!
Tip: place a container with water in the bottom of the oven, this will make sure the humidity and heat are evenly distributed in the oven.

🥢 How to serve
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Here in Italy, you can find that in most cases, they cut the focaccia in medium to small rectangles, depending on the use.
For the apperitivo hour (happy hours), they will usually cut it into small pieces and bring it with olives and assorted appetizers.

You can also pour some olive oil into a small ball and add balsamic vinegar from Modena for a delicious and simple dipping option for baked focaccia.
You can also make a focaccia sandwich. This focaccia works great for that because it is thick. Just cut it right in the middle, lengthwise, and make a sandwich as you would make any other sandwich.
I promise you; it will be the best sandwich ever; you'll never turn back! My favorite focaccia sandwich is made with roasted vegetables (a mix of eggplants, onions, and red peppers).
You can also have your focaccia as part of a vegan charcuterie board with spiced onions and spreads like hummus, roasted bell pepper Muhammara, Roasted red pepper hummus, and a Goddess Green Sauce.
We also love serving baked focaccia with this simple but flavor-packed Italian eggplant stew or Vegan Eggplant Baba Ganoush.
💡 Focaccia toppings
My favorite focaccia toppings include:
- Fresh herbs like fresh rosemary or thyme (pick tough herbs, not soft like fresh basil or arugula, they will wilt immediately).
- Roasted garlic cloves
- Whole or halved cherry tomatoes
- Sliced plum tomatoes
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Eggplant slices
- Zucchini slices
- Black or green olives
- Thinly slices onions
- Roasted red peppers

Simply pick your favorite and place it on top before baking your focaccia.
Tip: the focaccia baking time is brief, so if you want to use a topping that is raw and requires further cooking, briefly cook it before placing it on top of the focaccia.
📖 Variations
This classic Italian bread has many variations even here in Italy. You can find tens of thousands of variations, so how can another variation harm the world?

I love Semolina and the sandy, dusty effect it has on bread and pizza. I think Semolina makes bread, and pizzas have more of a Sourdough texture, which I am all in for. We use this type of dough for our traditional marinara pizza as well.
This is thick focaccia; if you prefer thinner focaccia, you can split the dough in four instead of two.
Ligurian focaccia is usually thinner and made with brine.
It is also widespread to make a brine for the focaccia with 1 ½ teaspoons of salt plus ⅓ cup of lukewarm water, then pour it into the raw dough during the second rise. I prefer my focaccia with flaky sea salt and without a brine, but it is a matter of taste.

🥖 Tips if new to bread baking
Flour
The bread flour type is a big deal when baking the best focaccia recipe. I learned it the hard way. You can’t use any flour for any bread or baked goods. The zeros define the amount of gluten (protein) a given flour type has, thus what the flour is good for.
The best focaccia bread is made with strong flour, but all-purpose flour also works. I have tried it with good results, but I like it better, as it makes the baked focaccia fluffier.

The fewer zeros, the more gluten, and gluten is the protein that makes dough rise. Therefore, if you use a multipurpose flour (most likely a 000), it will not grow as a 0 or 00 one.
Flours used for baking cakes are most likely the 0000 type because you don’t want your cake to lose its shape.
There is no better or worse flour; you just need to know what you want it for.
Yeast
Yeasts are microorganisms from the fungus kingdom. They are alive; they hate salt and love sugar. So when you use salt, ensure it doesn’t come in direct contact with yeast; it will kill it, as hot water does. Yeasts like warm water and sweets, don’t we all?
Instead, it would help spread the salt within the flour evenly so the yeast doesn't meet a salt cluster.
Inversely, diluting active dry yeast in warm water with sugar is a good idea.
Hot water also kills yeast.
Extra virgin olive oil
Focaccia heavily relies on good-quality extra virgin olive oil. Like most Italian cuisine recipes, this recipe uses very few ingredients; quality is critical.
As you can see, there are no fancy ingredients here, so put some extra effort into using a decent extra virgin olive oil. It doesn't have to be top-tier since you will still cook it.
🥡 Storage
So, Can you Freeze focaccia?
Yes, you can! Just freeze leftover focaccia covered in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Then, to defrost it, preheat the oven to 300 ºF (150 ºC) for 10 minutes and place the frozen focaccia for 7-10 minutes. Ready!
Without any other tips, here is the Focaccia! Let me know how it goes!
❓ FAQ
Most yeast is GF, but some kinds of yeast can contain gluten, so it is best to check the package. The most common kinds of yeast used for baking goods, such as baker’s and active dry yeast, are gluten-free.
🇮🇹 More Italian Inspiration
- Basic Pizza Recipe + all the tips straight from Italy
- Saffron Risotto
- Lemony Spaghetti
- 3 Ingredient Pasta Sauce
- 5 Minute Vegan Pesto
- Vegan Arugula Pesto
🍞 More easy bread recipes
⭐ If you try this recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!
📋 Recipe

Rosemary Focaccia Bread Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.1 pounds 0 Flour Full Strength Manitoba flour, plus some to adjust and lay on the surface
- 3.5 ounces semolina hard durum wheat
- 2 teaspoons brewer’s yeast dry, fast leavening
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 ⅓ cups water warm
- ⅓ cup olive oil extra-virgin, plus extra to oil pan and drizzle
- 2 tablespoons sea salt fine
- 3 sprigs rosemary fresh, it is OK if you only have dried rosemary
Optional
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt one for each focaccia
- 6 cherry tomatoes for a tomato and rosemary focaccia
Directions
- Dilute the sugar and yeast in warm water. Let it rest for 10 minutes. You should see some bubbles on top of the mix.
- Meanwhile, mix the bread flour, semolina, and olive oil in a bowl. Then add the yeast water. Finally, add the sea salt and continue folding.
- Take out of the bowl and knead for 15 minutes, using more flour if the dough is too sticky. You may need to add about 50 grams of flour (no more than 2 ounces).
- Divide the dough into two pieces when you have a uniform ball. Divide in two evenly with a dough scraper. Use a kitchen scale to make sure they have the same volume.
- Stretch each one into a rectangle, and fold it in three parts, like folding a letter. See pictures in post.
- Place each piece on an oiled pan. Put some olive oil on top of each dough ball until fully covered, and then cover them with plastic wrap. Air is the worst enemy of your dough. It will create a hard crust on it if you leave it uncovered.
- First rise. Let the dough rise for 30 minutes close to a warm place in your kitchen or close to a heater.If you don't have a warm place, turn the oven for 2 minutes at the minimum temperature. Turn the oven off and introduce the dough.
- Take the raised dough balls. Generously oil the two pans where you will bake the two focaccia bread. Give the two balls a rectangle shape (one at a time). Delicately stretch them on each pan, press with your fingers, drizzle with olive oil and place the rosemary leaves (and halved cherry tomatoes face-up). Cover with plastic wrap.
- 2nd rise. Let the dough rising on the rectangles sheets rise in a warm place for 60 minutes. At minute 50, preheat your oven at 480ºF (250ºC) on fan mode for 10 minutes.
- Remove the plastic wrap, press your finger again, and optionally drizzle with extra olive oil. Optionally sprinkle ½ teaspoon of coarse sea salt on top of each focaccia.
- Put any oven-resistant container on the bottom of the oven with 1 cup of water (this helps to ensure the temperature is even in all types of ovens, in case you don’t have an oven with a fan). Use fan mode preferably; if not available, use upper and lower heat mode.
- Bake the Focaccia for 12-15 mins or until golden on top, without opening the oven. Watch the oven after minute 10, don't let the top burn.
Video
Notes
- Use the second piece for a pizza. The same dough works perfectly.
- Reduce to half all the ingredients.
- Use a larger baking sheet and make a big one.
Nutrition Facts
I couldn't find the exact brands of flour and Semolina I use here in Italy, but these two should make it. It is important to have a Manitoba One Zero Flour and a Hard Durum Wheat Semola.
🌡️ Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking points to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.
Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.
Nathan says
I've yet to make focaccia for myself but this recipe makes it look so easy. Can't wait to give it a try!
Louise says
I adore foccacia and this recipe was perfect! I made mine with olives and rosemary. Amazing!
Gus says
Hey Louise, Olives make great focaccia toppings, great choice!
Jacqui says
Seriously the best focaccia I ever had! So tasty and amazing!
Gus says
Wow! That's a great compliment! Thank you!
Anaiah says
I don't think it can get any better than this. Love this rosemary focaccia recipe! It turned out perfectly.
Gus says
That's cool Anaiah! thanks for your feedback! We appreciate it!
Gina says
Nothing better than homemade bread. Your recipe was easy to follow and delicious. It really made the most perfect focaccia!
Emily says
This focaccia is so delicious and versatile, I can't wait to try it with all sorts of different toppings! The photo showing the crumb is my favorite, well done!
Gus says
Thank you, Emily! Cheers!
Kayla DiMaggio says
Yum! This rosemary focaccia bread was so delicious! We devoured it!
Gus says
That's great! Today we made the focaccia again to make the video for the recipe and we also devoured it! We'll be posting the video soon!
Michelle says
Was wowed by the photos and the focaccia is just divine!!
Gus says
Thank you! And the flavor! Oh, God!
Shilpa says
This focaccia looks incredibly delicious. I’m loving that lovely crumb. Can’t wait to try it. Thanks for the detailed instructions.
Gus says
Oh! you'll love it! Nothing like homemade focaccia! Try different toppings!
Tara says
This focaccia looks absolutely fantastic! I love that texture and all the tips to help make the bread perfect.
Sharon says
This focaccia bread is a wonderful side dish with pasta or chunky stews. I really like step-by-step instructions for making it.
Gus says
I am glad you found the steps by steps helpful Sharon! Thanks for the feedback!
Kristen Wood says
This couldn't be easier! Turned out perfectly, too!
Gus says
I am very happy to hear that Kristen! Focaccia baking is easy, just need the right steps! 🙂
Anjali says
Omg this foccacia bread turned out just as good at my favorite bakery's foccacia! It was moist and flavorful!
Gus says
that's very nice Anjali! Thank for the feedback!
Andrea says
Great find! I'm super excited about this bread, I'm always in search of ways to use rosemary. It's one of my favorite spices! And so easy to make!
Gus says
I am sure you will adore it! One of our favorite comfort foods!
Jessie says
I can just imagine how good the house will smell while baking this.
rebecca says
OMG I love focaccia! your recipe is so easy and thanks for sharing the brands you used
Gus says
you are very welcome Rebecca!
Jessica Formicola says
We made this bread last night and the house smelled AMAZING! Thanks for sharing such a great recipe!
Gus says
I am glad to hear that your rosemary focaccia was a success!
Julie says
This looks incredible! I can't believe how easy it is to make. Will be baking some of this up very soon!
Gus says
Thank you! I am sure you guys are going to love it! Pure Italian deliciousness!
Heather Perine says
One of my all time favorite bread recipes to make! And I love the simplicity of it too. Just need some good olive oil now for dunking 🙂
Taly says
Probé esta receta y ¡Fue amor al primer bocado! Me encantó!
Sarai says
It was the perfect bread recipe! Easy and Delicious! ????????????????
Gus says
I am glad you enjoyed it! That's our best reward!