Focaccia Toppings Recipe

Focaccia toppings can be as simple as just olive oil or a combination of your favorite flavors to create your own personal focaccia. This recipe gives you three different toppings. Be sure to check out the many variations above!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups (360ml) warm water
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 3 1/4 cups (400 grams) all purpose (plain) flour
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil ((extra for oiling the baking pan))
• 1/4 cup lukewarm water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon flaked salt for sprinkling on top
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (for drizzling after focaccia has baked)
• 1 red or yellow bell pepper (capsicum) (or 1/2 red and 1/2 yellow)
• 1 tablespoon capers
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 medium tomatoes (very ripe)
• 1/3 cup black olives
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 small zucchini
• 1/3 cup finely grated pecorino romano cheese
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir together warm water, active dry yeast, and honey. Allow to stand approximately 10 minutes until frothy.
2. 2Using the dough hook on the stand mixer (or use your hands), add flour to the water/yeast mixture and combine until mixture comes together. Stand 5 minutes.
3. 3Add oil and salt and continue to mix for 5 minutes (or 7 minutes by hand) until smooth and elastic.
4. 4Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow it to rise for 45 minutes in a warm place or until doubled in size. If the temperature of the room is too cool, the dough will take longer to double in size.
5. 5Spread 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil onto a baking pan with sides.
6. 6Tip the dough gently onto the oiled, 15in x 10in (38cm x 25cm) baking pan.
7. 7Use some of the oil that’s in the baking pan to oil the top of the dough. Gently stretch and press the dough to fit the pan. If the dough wants to shrink back, let it rest for 15 minutes or so before pressing and stretching it again.
8. 8Make indentations with your fingers into the dough.
9. 9Arrange sliced bell peppers over one-third of the dough. It will seem like a lot, but it will cook down. Scatter evenly with capers.
10. 10On the middle third, pile crushed tomatoes into one third of the dough. You may not need all the juices but use most of it. Arrange black olives cut side down over tomatoes then sprinkle with dried oregano.
11. 11Press garlic slices into the final third of the dough. Sprinkle on the pecorino romano cheese then arrange zucchini slices over the cheese. Zucchini will overlap but that’s perfect.
12. 12Mix together brine ingredients until salt is dissolved. Pour carefully over toppings. Allow to proof for 30 minutes until puffy and bubbly.
13. 13In the meantime, preheat oven to 450°F (235°C).
14. 14Before baking, sprinkle the toppings with flaked salt and bake on the center rack for 20 minutes. Then move to the upper rack and bake for another 5 minutes until the top is golden brown.
15. 15Remove from the oven and immediately turn onto a wire rack. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over the baked focaccia.
16. 16Allow to cool a little before cutting into portions if serving warm.
17. 17--- Toppings ---
18. 18While the dough is rising, prepare the toppings.
19. 19For the tomato and olive topping, cut tomatoes in quarters and remove the core. Using your hands, squash the tomato quarters into a bowl ensuring that you catch the tomato juices in the bowl. Pit the olives by crushing the olives with the blade of a knife then cut in half and remove the pit. Set aside
20. 20For the zucchini, pecorino romano cheese, and garlic, slice the zucchinis very thinly and toss in a bowl with extra virgin olive oil. Combine well. Peel the garlic and slice thinly. Set aside.
21. 21For the bell peppers and capers topping, slice the peppers into thin strips lengthwise, and toss in a bowl with extra virgin olive oil. Set aside.