Fluffy Garlic Parmesan Focaccia Bread Recipe for Beginners

Garlic parmesan focaccia bread elevates ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Regional Italian bakers have long celebrated this delectable flatbread’s versatility and rich, aromatic profile.

Crisp edges and a pillowy interior characterize this beloved rustic delicacy that beckons hungry souls.

Soft dimples across its surface capture golden olive oil, creating irresistible pockets of flavor and texture.

Savory herbs and robust cheese elevate this simple bread beyond basic expectations, promising a sensory journey with each bite.

Fragrant garlic weaves through each morsel, delivering complex layers of taste that dance between subtle and bold.

Homemade focaccia offers a connection to traditional baking techniques that nourish both body and spirit.

Garlic Parmesan Focaccia Bread Explained

• Craft an Overnight Sensation: This focaccia transforms simple ingredients through a slow, cold fermentation process that develops deep, complex flavors without extra effort.
• Savor Textural Perfection: The bread boasts a crispy, golden exterior with delightfully soft, airy interior pockets created by strategic finger dimpling and careful olive oil incorporation.
• Elevate Everyday Eating: The garlic-Parmesan topping turns a basic bread into a gourmet experience, making it perfect for casual dinners, appetizer spreads, or impressive bread basket additions that require minimal cooking skills.

Ingredients for Flavorful Parmesan Focaccia

• Flour: All-purpose flour creates the foundation of the focaccia with soft, tender texture.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall flavor and helps develop gluten structure.

• Warm Water, Instant Yeast, Sugar: Crucial combination that activates yeast and initiates dough fermentation, with warm water helping yeast bloom quickly.

• Olive Oil: Rich, smooth oil that provides moisture, helps develop crispy crust, and adds authentic Mediterranean flavor.
• Minced Garlic, Grated Parmesan, Italian Seasoning: Bold flavor enhancers that create aromatic and savory profile.
• Maldon Flaked Sea Salt: Provides delicate crunch and finishing touch with bright, clean saltiness.

Instructions for a Golden Crust and Tender Inside

Step 1: Awaken the Dough Magic

In a spacious mixing bowl, whisk together flour and salt. In a separate container, blend warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let the mixture sit briefly until tiny bubbles start dancing. Stir the yeast blend into flour with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Wrap the bowl with plastic and send it on a cool vacation in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours.

Step 2: Shape and Nurture the Dough

Pull the dough from its chilly rest. Drizzle olive oil into an 8-inch round cake pan. Gently transfer the dough, tucking its edges underneath. Cover and let it relax at room temperature for 2 hours, allowing it to expand and fill the pan.

Step 3: Dress and Decorate

Heat the oven to 450°F. Generously drizzle olive oil over the puffy dough. Using fingertips, create playful dimples across the surface, pressing down but not piercing through.

Step 4: Sprinkle the Flavor Explosion

• Minced garlic
• Grated Parmesan
• Italian seasoning

Scatter this aromatic mixture evenly across the dough. Finish with a sprinkle of Maldon sea salt.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Lower oven temperature to 425°F. Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 22-24 minutes until the focaccia turns a gorgeous golden brown.

Step 6: Cool and Serve

Remove from oven and let cool briefly. Slice, share, and enjoy your homemade masterpiece!

Handy Tips for the Best Garlic Focaccia Texture

• Master Cold Fermentation: Let the dough develop deep flavors by refrigerating overnight, which enhances texture and taste complexity.
• Create Perfect Dimples: Press fingers firmly but gently into dough to make signature focaccia indentations without tearing the surface.
• Control Olive Oil Moisture: Drizzle high-quality extra virgin olive oil generously to ensure a crispy, golden-brown crust with rich flavor.
• Select Premium Cheese: Use freshly grated Parmesan for maximum flavor, avoiding pre-packaged alternatives that lack depth and intensity.
• Achieve Ideal Baking Temperature: Start at high heat and immediately reduce to ensure even browning and a perfectly crisp exterior with a soft interior.

Keeping Focaccia Fresh After Baking

• Wrap tightly: Cover the focaccia with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent drying out.
• Refrigerate quickly: Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Use airtight container: Place in a sealed container to preserve texture and flavor.

• Oven revival: Preheat to 350°F, wrap in foil, and warm for 5-7 minutes to restore crispy edges and soft interior.
• Toaster oven: Slice and toast for 2-3 minutes until warm and slightly crisp.
• Avoid microwave: Microwaving can make the bread tough and soggy, losing its delightful texture.

Best Pairings for Savory Garlic Bread

• Savor Rustic Italian Wine Pairing: Complement the garlic parmesan focaccia's robust flavors with a crisp Pinot Grigio or a medium-bodied Chianti, which will balance the bread's richness and herbal notes.
• Create Delightful Dipping Companions: Serve alongside a zesty marinara sauce, herbed olive oil, or a creamy garlic aioli to enhance the focaccia's savory profile and provide a delicious interactive eating experience.
• Design Mediterranean-Inspired Appetizer Plate: Pair the focaccia with fresh antipasto ingredients like prosciutto, marinated olives, roasted red peppers, and soft mozzarella to create a vibrant, textured starter that celebrates Italian culinary traditions.
• Match With Hearty Soup Complement: Serve alongside a creamy tomato basil soup or a rustic minestrone to transform the focaccia into a satisfying meal, using the bread to soak up the rich, warm broth.

Ways to Customize Your Focaccia Recipe

• Herbal Infusion Focaccia: Swap Italian seasoning for fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage. Chop herbs finely and sprinkle generously over dough before baking for an aromatic Mediterranean-inspired version.
• Spicy Jalapeño Cheese Focaccia: Add diced jalapeños and sharp cheddar cheese instead of Parmesan. Scatter chopped peppers and grated cheese across dough surface for a bold, zesty kick.
• Mediterranean Olive Focaccia: Mix chopped Kalamata olives and crumbled feta cheese into the topping. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle dried oregano for a Greek-style bread experience.
• Roasted Vegetable Focaccia: Layer thinly sliced zucchini, bell peppers, and red onions over the dough before baking. Brush with garlic-infused olive oil and garnish with fresh basil leaves after cooking.

Garlic Parmesan Focaccia Bread Recipe

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4.7 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Garlic parmesan focaccia bread brings Italian comfort to your kitchen with golden, herb-infused perfection. Crisp edges, pillowy center, and aromatic rosemary invite home cooks to savor each rustic slice straight from the oven.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour)
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 1/8 teaspoons instant yeast
• ⅔ cup fresh Parmesan cheese, grated

Seasonings and Herbs:

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

Finishing Ingredients:

• Olive oil (for greasing and drizzling)
• Maldon flaked sea salt (for topping)

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Instructions

1. Mix flour and kosher salt in a glass vessel, creating a dry foundation for the bread.
2. Activate yeast by combining warm water, instant yeast, and sugar in a separate measuring cup, allowing the mixture to develop a slight foam texture.
3. Incorporate the yeast liquid into the flour mixture, stirring gently with a wooden spoon until a cohesive dough forms.
4. Refrigerate the dough, covered with plastic wrap, for a slow fermentation process lasting 8-12 hours.
5. Extract the dough from cold storage and prepare an 8-inch round cake pan by generously coating the surface with olive oil.
6. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, carefully tucking and smoothing the edges to create an even surface.
7. Allow the dough to expand and relax at room temperature for approximately two hours, developing its characteristic texture.
8. Heat the oven to 450°F, then reduce to 425°F when introducing the bread.
9. Generously drizzle additional olive oil across the dough’s surface, ensuring complete coverage.
10. Create signature focaccia dimples by pressing fingertips firmly into the dough, reaching near the bottom without puncturing completely.
11. Craft a flavorful topping by blending minced garlic, grated Parmesan, and Italian seasoning.
12. Distribute the aromatic garlic-Parmesan mixture evenly across the dough’s surface.
13. Sprinkle Maldon flaked sea salt as a final flavor-enhancing touch.
14. Bake until the focaccia achieves a rich golden-brown color, approximately 22-24 minutes.

Notes

• Overnight refrigeration develops deep, complex flavor profiles in the dough, making preparation super easy and enhancing taste.
• Warm water activates yeast gently, creating a perfect environment for soft, fluffy bread texture.
• Olive oil helps create a crispy golden exterior while keeping the inside tender and moist.
• Dimpling the dough isn’t just decorative; it allows olive oil to pool and creates signature focaccia pockets.
• Parmesan and garlic topping transforms basic bread into a restaurant-quality side dish with incredible aromatic punch.
• Flaked sea salt provides delightful crunch and elevates the overall flavor complexity of the focaccia.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 0.5 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 10 mg