Fluffy olive oil bread with rosemary, tomato, and olive toppings
Focaccia with Garden Toppings
Focaccia with Garden Toppings
45 minEasy
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12
1 large sheet
Difficulty
Easy
Cost
Budget
$
Focaccia with Garden Toppings
Fluffy olive oil bread with rosemary, tomato, and olive toppings
Pillowy, dimpled focaccia generously doused in olive oil and adorned with fresh rosemary, cherry tomatoes, olives, and flaky sea salt. A showstopper bread that doubles as art.
20m
Prep Time
25m
Cook Time
45m
Total Time
12
Servings
Easy
Difficulty
Budget $
Cost
Sarah Chen
(Updated )
Focaccia is the most forgiving bread you can bake—a wet dough that practically makes itself, requiring only time and generous amounts of olive oil. The result is an irresistibly airy, flavorful flatbread.
Ingredients
- 4 cups bread flour
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 1 3/4 cups warm water
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for pan
- Cherry tomatoes, olives, fresh rosemary for topping
- 2 tsp flaky sea salt
Instructions
- 1
Mix flour, yeast, salt, water, and 2 tbsp olive oil into a shaggy dough. Cover and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
- 2
Pour remaining olive oil into a sheet pan, transfer dough, and stretch to fill. Let rest 20 minutes, then stretch again.
- 3
Use oiled fingers to create deep dimples all over the surface of the dough.
- 4
Press cherry tomatoes, olives, and rosemary sprigs into the dimples. Drizzle with more olive oil and sprinkle sea salt.
- 5
Bake at 425°F for 22-25 minutes until deeply golden and crispy on the bottom.
Serving Suggestions
Ways to Serve This Dish
Serve with crusty artisan bread for dipping
Finish with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil
Pair with a simple arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette
Arrange on a platter for easy sharing at your next gathering
Substitutions
Bread flourAll-purpose flour
Reduce water by 2 tbsp as all-purpose absorbs less
Instant yeastActive dry yeast
Proof active dry yeast in warm water for 10 minutes first
DepthPantry
Test Kitchen Pick
Olive Oil
Helpful Pantry Staple
Why the olive oil matters
On recipes like this, olive oil is not just a background fat. A better bottle gives you cleaner flavor and a better finish.
This is one of the few pantry upgrades that keeps paying off every time you cook in this lane.
- Useful in dressings, sauces, and finishing
- Improves flavor without changing the recipe structure
A good bottle of olive oil is one of the safest pantry upgrades for Mediterranean and Italian cooking.
Shop olive oil for this recipeTips & Storage
Pro Tips
Don't be shy with the olive oil—it creates the signature crispy bottom and moist interior.
For extra flavor, do an overnight cold rise in the refrigerator and bake the next morning.
Storage
Store at room temperature wrapped in a towel for 1 day, or freeze sliced for up to 1 month.
Reheating
Reheat in a 350°F oven for 5-8 minutes to restore crispness.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (0mg) · 12 servings
Calories210
LowModerateHigh
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Protein5g
Carbohydrates8g
Fat30g
Fiber420mg
Sugar1g
Sodium1g
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is my focaccia dense?
- The dough likely needed more rising time—it should be bubbly and doubled in size.
- Can I use all-purpose flour?
- Yes, though bread flour gives a chewier, more structured result.
About Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
View all recipes →Some product links on this page may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate RecipePool earns from qualifying purchases.
You Might Also Like
Medium
Italian
Pizza Margherita Napoletana
28 min2 servings
View Recipe
Pizza Margherita Napoletana
28 min•Medium
Easy
Italian
Pizza Quattro Formaggi
25 min2 servings
View Recipe
Pizza Quattro Formaggi
25 min•Easy
Easy
Italian
Pizza Diavola
25 min2 servings
View Recipe
Pizza Diavola
25 min•Easy
Medium
Italian
Arancini
50 min6 servings
View Recipe
Arancini
50 min•Medium
Medium
Italian
Supplì al Telefono
45 min5 servings
View Recipe
Supplì al Telefono
45 min•Medium
Easy
Italian
Bruschetta Quattro Stagioni
35 min8 servings
View Recipe
Bruschetta Quattro Stagioni
35 min•Easy