This easy Focaccia bread with cherry tomatoes and thyme is the perfect accompaniment to so many dishes – it’s very simple to make at home.
Focaccia is such a beautiful bread. It has a crisp, chewy crust and is completely unique in flavour to any other bread.
I used to think Focaccia was extremely difficult to make at home, but it’s actually very easy.
The first time you make Focaccia, you will probably think you’ve made a mistake measuring out the ingredients. The dough is very wet, but it’s supposed to be like that. You haven’t done anything wrong!
I add lots of colourful cherry tomatoes and fresh thyme to my Focaccia bread. It looks so pretty and the tomatoes become so sweet and juicy in the heat of the oven.
I started making it this way years ago and my husband absolutely loved it.
How to make this easy Focaccia Bread with cherry tomatoes and thyme
You just need a few very simple ingredients to make Focaccia bread.
Strong White Flour
Instant Yeast (I use the fast action sachets)
Water.
Olive Oil.
This is the basic, bare bones recipe but obviously you can add whatever ingredients to like to jazz it up. Instead of the tomatoes and thyme, you could add –
Thinly sliced red onion
Garlic
Rosemary sprigs
Anchovies
Olives
Tips for making perfect Focaccia Bread
As I said above, the dough will be very wet – almost like a cake batter. It’s a little tricky to work with at first, but once you get used to it, it’s a breeze.
If you have a stand mixer I definitely recommend using it for this recipe.
Focaccia dough is very difficult to knead by hand. It can be done, but it will take you at least 10 minutes of vigorous kneading and your arms will feel like they’re going to fall off!
Don’t be tempted to add more flour – if you do, you risk changing the structure of the dough and it won’t have the texture of a Focaccia bread.
For a crunchy base, sprinkle the bottom of the baking sheet with semolina.
what to serve with focaccia bread
Almost anything you like! it would be particularly good with this Italian inspired Chicken Milanese with Spaghetti or this meatball mozzarella pasta bake, but to be honest, I like it simply served on its own alongside bowls of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping.
Add a salad and some crunchy veg such as radishes and sliced peppers for a gorgeous starter or al Freco lunch. Perfect for Summer Time!
Focaccia also makes the best sandwiches!
Stuff thick slices with cooked chargrilled veg such as asparagus, peppers or courgettes with a basil mayo or cured meats like pepperoni or salami.
More Bread recipes…
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Easy Focaccia Bread with Cherry Tomatoes and Thyme
Focaccia bread is easier to make than you think - give the dough plenty of time to rest and you'll be rewarded with a soft, fluffy tear and share bread that no-one will be able to resist!
Ingredients
- 500g Strong White Flour
- 1x7g Sachet fast action yeast
- 8g Salt
- 350-400ml Tepid Water
- 40g Garlic Olive oil, , Or regular Olive Oil
- 100g Fresh Cherry Tomatoes
- A small bunch of Fresh Thyme, Leaves picked
- More Olive Oil, for drizzling over the Focaccia
- Sea Salt Flakes for sprinkling
Instructions
- Place the flour in a large bowl. Add the yeast and salt at opposite sides of the bowl (Placing salt directly on top of yeast can stop it from working.)
- Pour the water and the garlic oil over the flour and using your hands or a wooden spoon, mix together. It will seem far too wet and you may think you've added to much water, but don't worry! It's meant to be this way.
- Once you have a very wet dough, cover the bowl with cling film and leave to rest for 30 minutes in a warm place.
- Turn out onto a lightly oiled work surface and knead for at least 5 minutes, preferably with a heavy duty stand mixer. The dough will look more like cake batter at this stage - this is why I don't recommend kneading it by hand!
- Don't be tempted to add more flour - it will change the texture of the bread. Place dough back in the bowl and leave to rest for 1-2 hours or until almost doubled in size.
- When the dough has almost doubled in size, tip out onto a large baking tray which you have drizzled with olive oil. The dough will start to deflate. Lightly oil your hands and fold the dough in half a couple of times. This should help it hold its shape a little. Flatten the dough out with your hands, trying, to get the dough to reach right to the edges of the tray. Cover with oiled cling film and leave to prove for 45 minutes or until doubled in size again.
- Preheat the oven to 220/200Fan/425F/Gas mark 8.
- When the dough has proved, poke dimples into the dough using your fingers. You need to press down quite firm - no need to be gentle! The more dimples, the better!
- Place the halved cherry tomatoes into the dimples, scatter over the thyme leaves, drizzle with a little more garlic oil and scatter over some sea salt.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until golden on top and underneath.
- Sprinkle over some more sea salt and drizzle with more olive oil before serving.
Notes
For a crunchy base, sprinkle the baking tray with semolina.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 317Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1203mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 7g
Calories and Nutritional information are calculated by a third party application and should be used as an indicative guide only.
As a baker by trade i have to say this is a very good focaccia recipe.
Thank you very much!
I am struggling with the amounts- can you clarify the measurements?
Hi, the ingredient amounts are in the recipe card – what can I help you with?