Herb Focaccia Bread

Herb Focaccia Bread - This delicious bread is made so incredibly easy and made from scratch!

Hey y’all! Jennifer (jennifersikora.com) here. Today I am sharing this amazingly delicious Herbed Focaccia Bread recipe. My herb garden is going crazy right now and I am always looking for new recipes to make to share with friends and family. This one is definitely a winner.

This weekend we had a lazy Saturday for the most part and decided about half way through the day that we needed to do some much needed yard clean up. While the guys were out mowing, I popped myself in the kitchen to make some bread to go with dinner that evening.

Now – what makes this bread so darn delicious? Two secrets – one is the fresh herbs that I pulled straight from my herb garden.

You mix that with minced garlic and your kitchen will smell like you live in Tuscany or something.

Herb Focaccia Bread - This delicious bread is made so incredibly easy and made from scratch!

The second secret is the new Pompeian Robust Olive Oil. The flavor of this olive oil is so delicious that it makes your bread come alive.

Picking olive oil at the grocery store can be daunting because there are so many brands and choices. Olive oil comes in many different colors from light to dark green, and that is all because of the type of olives used.

Of the olive oil varieties, extra virgin is the highest grade of olive oil, meaning that the oil has no more than 0.8% acidity. Extra virgin olive oil is great for sauces, marinating, soups and salads.

I choose to use Pompeian olive oils because it is a brand I know and trust. They have the USDA seal on the label, which lets me know that they put it through test after test to make sure they are selling me top quality olive oil.

I also love the fact that they package their oils in dark green bottles. This helps reduce the oxidation of the oil, keeping it fresher, longer! Once you purchase the oil, keep it in your pantry, away from heat and light.

Herb Focaccia Bread - This delicious bread is made so incredibly easy and made from scratch!

This bread really takes a total of about an hour and a half from beginning to end to make. You don’t have to knead it much (if you are doing it by hand), and if you use a stand mixer, you don’t have to knead it at all.

Start by mixing together your dry ingredients – the flour,salt, yeast, and sugar.

Herb Focaccia Bread - This delicious bread is made so incredibly easy and made from scratch!

Then once you get your herbs chopped up, add it and the garlic to your dry ingredients.

Herb Focaccia Bread - This delicious bread is made so incredibly easy and made from scratch!

Next, add in your olive oil and water and you are ready to start mixing your bread dough.

Herb Focaccia Bread - This delicious bread is made so incredibly easy and made from scratch!

Use your stand mixer to mix together your dough. When it comes together and is not super sticky, and pulls away from the side of your bowl, you know that it is ready.

The dough should be soft and pliable and not sticky to the touch.

I add a few drops of olive oil to my mixing bowl afterwards to make sure that it does not stick to the sides as it is rising.

Cover with plastic wrap and set it aside in a non drafty spot for 30 minutes.

After the 30 minutes are up, take your dough and turn it out onto a cookie sheet that has sides. Let it rest for just a few minutes.

Herb Focaccia Bread - This delicious bread is made so incredibly easy and made from scratch!

After it has set for a few minutes, start moving it around the pan to get it even.

Then with your fingertips, you are going to press holes into your dough to make divets.

Herb Focaccia Bread - This delicious bread is made so incredibly easy and made from scratch!

Then while your oven is preheating to 425 degrees, take your olive oil and brush it onto the top of your bread dough. This will help to brown it some, but I love the robust flavor that it gives to my bread.

In fact, the Pompeian Robust Olive Oil has a delicious fruity flavor with overtones of freshly cut grass and an aftertaste of walnuts and tomato leaves. It has a spicy, bitter character that pairs well with the herbs used in this bread.

Herb Focaccia Bread - This delicious bread is made so incredibly easy and made from scratch!

Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until it comes out nice and brown.

Herb Focaccia Bread - This delicious bread is made so incredibly easy and made from scratch!

Once it comes out, mix together 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of salt and brush on the top of your bread.

Let it rest for about 15 minutes then serve with your favorite meal. This bread is really a no fuss bread that can be served with just about any dish out there.

The next time you go to the grocery store and find yourself standing in front of all the olive oils out there, simply look for the Pompeian brand because you know you can trust what they are selling.

Herb Focaccia Bread - This delicious bread is made so incredibly easy and made from scratch!
What is your favorite bread recipe?

Herb Focaccia Bread

Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 1 focaccia loaf

Ingredients

  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1 large clove garlic finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped (or 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary)
  • 1/2 tablespoon fresh thyme chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup warm water

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt, sugar, and yeast. Add garlic and herbs and stir until well dispersed.
  • Next, add in your olive oil and water and you are ready to start mixing your bread dough.
  • Using your stand mixer to mix together your dough with the dough hook attachment. When it comes together and is not super sticky, and pulls away from the side of your bowl, you know that it is ready.The dough should be soft and pliable and not sticky to the touch. (I add a few drops of olive oil to my mixing bowl afterwards to make sure that it does not stick to the sides as it is rising.)
  • Cover with plastic wrap and set it aside in a non drafty spot for 30 minutes.
  • After the 30 minutes are up, take your dough and turn it out onto a greased cookie sheet that has sides. Let it rest for just a few minutes.
  • After it has set for a few minutes, start spreading it around the pan with your hands to get it even.
  • Then use your fingertips to press holes into your dough to make divets.
  • While your oven is preheating to 425 degrees, take your olive oil and brush it onto the top of your bread dough.
  • Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until it comes out nice and brown.
  • Once it comes out, mix together 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of salt and brush on the top of your bread.
  • Let it rest for about 15 minutes then serve with your favorite meal. This bread is really a no fuss bread that can be served with just about any dish out there.