Focaccia — Ad-Free Recipe, Ingredients First

The crumb comes from a wet, slack dough and a long cold rise, so bread flour with more protein gives the structure to hold all that water and air. The signature move: flood the pan with olive oil before and after, which fries the bottom crisp and carries the whole flavor.

The Ingredients — and where to get them

Cook for 12 servings

Bread flour

Higher protein than all-purpose builds the gluten that traps gas for those big holes.

500 g

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Extra-virgin olive oil

Poured under and over the dough; it fries the base and flavors the whole loaf, so use plenty of a good one.

1/2 cup

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Flaky finishing salt

Scattered over the oiled top just before baking for crunch and salt pops.

1 tbsp

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Sourdough starter

Optional; a spoon of active starter adds tang and complexity, or lean on the yeast alone.

50 g

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Yeast and warm water

Instant yeast and lukewarm water start the rise; the dough should be too wet to knead by hand.

400 g water

Local / market

The Rundown

Greedometer ●●●●● Barely a splurge

A light hand — your arteries say thanks. · plan ahead — needs marinating, soaking, or resting time

EffortSome doing

Cook it with

Air fryerSheet pan

The Method

Mix wet doughStir flour, water, yeast, starter if using, and salt into a shaggy, sticky mass; do not knead, just combine, then cover.
Cold riseDo a few stretch-and-folds over the first hour, then refrigerate 8-24 hours until doubled and bubbly for flavor.
Pan and dimplePour oil into a sheet pan, spread the dough out, let it relax 2 hours, then dimple deep with oiled fingers to the pan bottom.
Bake hotTop with oil and flaky salt and bake at 450F for 22-25 min until the top is deep gold and the bottom fries crisp.

The Toolkit

Sheet pan · Mixing bowl · Dough scraper · Kitchen scale · Cooling rack

Straight Answers

Can you make Focaccia in an air fryer? — Yes

Yes — bake it in a small pan or dish that fits the basket, at about 25°F below the recipe temperature. Air fryers run hot and fast, so check it early; no flipping needed.

Can you freeze Focaccia? — Yes

Yes — freeze it well-wrapped, then reheat or toast straight from frozen. Frost or glaze after thawing.

Can you make Focaccia ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — bake it a day or two ahead; it keeps well-wrapped at room temperature and freezes cleanly. Add any frosting or glaze close to serving.

Is Focaccia gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).

Is Focaccia vegan? — Yes

Yes — no meat, seafood, dairy, egg, or honey in it as written.

Community Notes

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Focaccia, and where to source it