Nutritional information per focaccia (with a salt and olive oil topping)
Calories: 2240kcal | Carbohydrates: 384g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 24mg
Focaccia Recipe with Biga – The Best Deep or Thin Focaccia
This focaccia recipe is a pretty straightforward artisan recipe. It creates a dough with the most perfect spongy crumb, that’s still light. It can be eaten on its own, sliced in half and filled with a sandwich filling or stretched into a longer tray to be cut into slices and served as a starter to a meal. So many uses and so delicious!
Nutritional information per focaccia (with a salt and olive oil topping)
Calories: 2240kcal | Carbohydrates: 384g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 24mg
Ingredients for 1 Servings:
For the biga:
- 200g White flour
- 200g Water
- 0.8g Fresh yeast (0.3g active dried)
For a 1 day focaccia recipe, increase the yeast in the biga to 2g and ferment for 4 hours.
For the dough:
- 300g White bread flour
- 160g Water
- 6g Fresh yeast (3g active dried)
- 10g Salt
- 30g Extra virgin olive oil
- 27g Second water
To top the focaccia:
- Extra sea salt and extra virgin olive oil
- A selection of toppings
Popular topping combinations include: Potato and rosemary; tomato, basil and mozzarella; rosemary and sea salt; sage and onion; dried herbs and cured meats.
Yeast conversion for instant and active dried yeast
If using instant yeast, divide the amount of fresh yeast used by 3 and follow the same method as fresh yeast. Active dried yeast needs to be activated before use. In this case, warm the water for the biga to 35C (95F) – no higher. Add the yeast to the bowl, whisk and leave for 10 minutes to bloom. Combine the flour for the biga with the yeasty water and place in the fridge for 10 minutes to cool. Return to the worktop and allow to ferment as above.
When ready to start the dough, warm 20 grams of water to 35C (95F), add the yeast with half a teaspoon of sugar, whisk and leave to stand for ten minutes before adding to the dough. Remove 20 grams of the 1st water addition from the recipe.
Changing the size of the recipe
This recipe makes 1 medium sized bread. If you want to change the size of the recipe, use the bakers formula.
Total Recipe Time
Goes Great with
I love focaccia, it’s the perfect balance of elegance, flavour, and beauty, and this focaccia recipe personifies bread making. As the recipe uses an overnight biga preferment, expect it to take around 20 hours to make. If you want to speed up the process, see the one day process below.
What you need to make focaccia bread with poolish
To make this focaccia, you’ll need the following equipment:
- A heavy-duty baking tray with a lip
- Mixing bowls
- A metal and plastic dough scraper
- A lid or some plastic wrap (something to cover the bowl)
- Scales, if you don’t have a decent set you might want to try these scales from Myweigh
- A baking stone
- A knife and cutting board to prepare the toppings
Using a thermometer will help you with controlling proofing times. For accurate dough temperature readings try this thermometer from Gdealer. Aim for a dough temperature of around 26C (75F).
What if I don’t have a baking stone?
A baking stone conducts heat into the loaf. Using one increases the height of the oven spring and helps to give an even bake on the base of the loaf. If you don’t have a baking stone, preheat the thickest baking sheet that you have.
Can I use a Dutch oven to make this recipe?
Yes, if you would rather use a Dutch oven to can however you will need to be able to fit the tray into the Dutch oven. This one from Challenger is the only one I know that will have enough space to fit a tray of focaccia in it. Simply preheat it inside the oven and drop the tray in to bake.
Step-By-Step Method For This Recipe
1) Start the biga
Create the biga the day before by whisking the yeast and water together until the yeast is dissolved. Add the flour to the bowl and lightly mix until combined. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and leave for 12-18 hours.
2) Begin the autolyse
When the biga is ready it will have risen around 50% and you will see large bubbles breaking up the surface. Place the flour, biga, 1st water and yeast into a mixing bowl or dough mixer. Mix for 30-60 seconds, until the ingredients are incorporated. Cover, and leave to autolyse for 20-30 minutes. This helps gas retention in the dough and reduces the kneading time.
3) Slow mixing
After the autolyse, add the salt and set a timer. Remove from the bowl and knead slowly with long, gradual motions for 10 minutes. Place back into the bowl and leave covered in the fridge for 15 minutes.
If using a dough mixer:
After the autolyse, add the salt to the dough mixer, fitted with a dough hook attachment. Set a 8 minute timer and start mix on a slow speed. Then increase the speed and knead for a further 8 minutes. The dough should be strong with lots of long strands of gluten visible.
Lower the mixer speed and add the second water, when most of it is absorbed, turn the speed up until it is fully incorporated. Repeat the same process with the olive oil. Skip to step 5.
4) Fast knead the dough
Take out of the fridge and knead for 5 minutes. This time the kneading should be more aggressive. I prefer to use the stretch, slap and fold method at this point.
5) Add the 2nd water and olive oil
Put the dough back in the mixing bowl and pour in the second water. Mash the water into the dough by pushing the dough into the edges of the bowl and turning it over. This may take a while but it will get there! When the water is absorbed, do the same thing with the extra virgin olive oil. Once incorporated, knead on the table for a couple more minutes or until the dough feels strong and even.
The dough should be soft and elastic before the additional water is added. The extra water allows the dough to be able to hold more water and helps to break up the evenness of the crumb. Don't be scared to add it!
6) Bulk fermentation pt 1
Put the dough in an oil’ed bowl, cover and leave to rest in the fridge for 1 hour.
7) Stretch and fold
Complete a stretch and fold (turn) and return the dough into the bowl.
Take a temperature reading at the end of mixing and after the stretch and fold. If it is above 26C (75F) place the dough to rest in the fridge, if under this it should be kept on the worktop, providing the kitchen temperature is not too hot. For more accurate controls of temperature, use some of the advice in this article.
8) Bulk ferment pt2
Place back in the bowl to rest for a further hour. You’ll want to think about getting your oven preheated at around now. Ideally preheat the oven with a baking stone (but this recipe will work without) to 250C (480F) for an hour.
9) Grease the baking sheet
Grease a lipped baking tray or dish generously with olive oil. This tray must be capable of withstanding high temperatures without wilting.
10) Stretch the dough in the tray
Take the dough out of the bowl and stretch it out with your hands as you place it in the tray. Flip the dough over to cover both the top and the bottom with oil and start to push the dough to the edges. You may find they keep springing back, don’t worry if this happens, we’ll fix it in a bit. Leave to rest for 20 minutes.
11) Prepare the toppings
A hardy herb like rosemary, some cheese that will melt nicely and veg works well. Get them all prepared. Any light herbs or leaves are best added near the end of baking.
12) Add the toppings!!
After the dough has rested, stretch the dough back out to the edges by using the tips of your fingers to massage the dough. Next, build your toppings on top of the dough.
13) Bake the focaccia
Before placing the focaccia in the hot oven, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. Drop the temperature to 220C (430F) once it’s in. No need to add steam, but do switch to the top and bottom heat if your oven allows. Bake for 20 minutes then open the door to release the steam, give it a turn and bake for a further 10-15 minutes, until the top looks nice and golden.
14) Cool then finish with more oil and sea salt!
Remove from the oven and drizzle some more extra virgin olive oil and sea salt! As soon as it is cool enough, get it onto a wire rack to cool. Drizzle with more sea salt and extra virgin olive oil before serving if you wish!
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