Taking bread to the next level is all about slowing down the process – when it comes to yeasted doughs, more time equals more flavour. With this recipe, we make a preferment (sometimes called a poolish) which is the first step to adding complexity to dough. Then we take as much time over the proving as possible by cold-proving in the fridge. When the dough develops a bubbly texture, we give it even more flavour with roasted garlic cloves and sprigs of rosemary. People tend to think of focaccia as having a spongy, almost cake-like texture, but true focaccia has a bit of chew to it and that’s what you’ll achieve with this recipe. It can be enjoyed on its own as it’s so full of flavour and texture, especially with those bursts of sweet roasted garlic.
Tips for next level focaccia
1. Starter’s orders
For maximum flavour, make the preferment the day before to leave enough time for it to ferment.
2. Pass the salt
Salt slows down the formation of gluten. Holding back on salt in the first stages means the prove gets a head start and makes the dough glossy and elastic for shaping.
3. No knead
As this dough is wetter than standard bread dough, we use a stretch-and-fold method to build its structure rather than traditional kneading.
4. Fine & flaky
Different salts have different functions – we first use a fine salt to incorporate into the dough, then flaky sea salt for a crunchy topping.
5. Keep it cool
More time equals more flavour complexity with bread, which is why we suggest cold-proving the dough in the fridge for up to 48 hours.
6. Bake it plain
Studding this focaccia with roasted garlic means it can be eaten on its own, but you can also omit this and keep it plain for sandwiches.
7. Make it your own
Treat the focaccia dough like a pizza base and add whichever toppings you want. You could stud it with olives, add finely sliced red onion and cherry tomatoes, or drizzle with pesto.
How to make it
Next level focaccia
Serves: 12
Prep: 25 mins plus overnight fermenting and proving
Cook: 50 mins
More effort
Ingredients
For the preferment
- 200g strong white bread flour
- 1/2 x 7g sachet dried fast-action yeast
For the dough
- 400g strong white bread flour
- 1/2 x 7g sachet dried fast-action yeast
- 10g fine salt
- 100ml olive oil
- 1 garlic bulb
- 2 rosemary sprigs, leaves picked
- 1 tsp flaky sea salt
Method
1. To make the preferment, mix the flour with the yeast and 200g room temperature water in a small bowl. Cover the bowl and leave to ferment for 12-24 hrs.Don’t worry about it bubbling up and coming down again – this is just about creating flavour.
2. Forthe dough, tip the preferment into a large bowl and pour over 225g tepid water. Stir with a spatula to combine. Tip in the flour and the rest of the yeast and mix everything together to make a rough dough. Make sure all the flour is mixed in and that there are no dry bits on the side of the bowl. Cover and leave to rest for at least 30 mins or up to 1 hr.
3. Scatter the fine salt over the dough, dip a hand into water and scrunch the salt through the dough to mix it in completely. Cover again and leave for 20-30 mins.
4. Wet your hands, grab the dough from one side and stretch it back over itself. Repeat with the other side – it should be very elastic. Curl the dough around itself so that it’s smooth and taught, then cover and leave for another 20-30 mins. Repeat this process twice more, then cover and leave to prove for 2-3 hrs until risen by about 40 per cent – the dough should be bubbly and soft.
5. Drizzle a deep, roughly 20 x 30cm baking tray with 2 tbsp of the olive oil and scrape the dough onto the tray. Incorporate the oil into the dough by stretching and folding it on the tray. Don’t worry if it’s a bit stringy to start, keep stretching and bringing it back on itself. When the dough has come together and is oily, cover and leave to prove at room temperature for 2 hrs, or for a much better flavour, up to 48 hrs in the fridge. Remove from the fridge 1 hr before baking.
6. Heat the oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 7. Meanwhile, cut the top off the head of garlic to expose the cloves. Sit the garlic on a piece of foil, drizzle with 1 tsp of the olive oil and season with salt. Wrap the bulb in the foil to create a parcel, put on a tray and roast for 25 mins. Remove from the oven and leave until cool enough to handle, then slip the garlic cloves out from their skins – they don’t need to be completely soft at this point.
7. Use your fingers to stretch the dough so it fits into the tray evenly, then dimple the surface using your fingertips. Push the garlic cloves and rosemary leaves deeply into the dough, evenly spaced apart. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and dimple a few more times to create oil puddles on the surface. Scatter over the 1 tsp flaky sea salt, give the dough a final poke and bake for 25-30 mins until puffed up and deep golden. Remove from the oven, drizzle with the remaining olive oil then leave to cool for at least 40 mins before cutting and serving. Best eaten straightaway but will keep for two days in an airtight container.
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