Make vibrant vegan focaccia bread with this simple recipe.
Start by preparing a dough with flour, yeast, sugar, salt and olive oil, let it rise, then shape it and decorate with your favorite vegetables.
After a second rise, bake until golden brown and enjoy this tasty masterpiece as an appetizer, side dish, or stand-alone treat.
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Try this recipe
What is the story
Focaccia, a popular Italian flatbread, has roots dating back to ancient Rome.
Traditionally garnished with herbs and olive oil, it has become a canvas for culinary art, especially in its vegan form.
This guide will walk you through creating a beautiful and delicious vegan focaccia bread that is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate.
Let’s go cook.
Gather the following ingredients
For this recipe, gather two cups of all-purpose flour, one packet (or two and a quarter teaspoons) of active dry yeast, one teaspoon of sugar, one teaspoon of salt, three tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil (plus extra for drizzling), and one cup of warm water.
Garnish with vegetables like peppers, cherry tomatoes, olives, red onions and fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme.
Prepare the dough
Start by activating the yeast for your dough. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in the warm water.
Next, gently sprinkle the yeast over the surface of the water. Let this mixture sit undisturbed for about five minutes.
You’ll know it’s ready when it becomes foamy, signaling that the yeast is active and ready to begin its work of transforming your dough.
Mix and knead
To the activated yeast mixture add two cups of flour with salt and three tablespoons of olive oil.
Stir everything together until a bristly dough forms.
Transfer this dough to a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour if necessary.
First climb
Place your kneaded dough in an oiled bowl, then cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.
Let sit in a warm place for about an hour or until doubled in size.
This first rise is crucial, as it develops the characteristic flavors and textures of traditional focaccia bread, essential to its unique quality.
Shape and decorate
After the first rise, gently deflate the dough on a lightly floured work surface then transfer it to an oiled baking sheet, rolling it out to the desired thickness.
Now comes the fun part: decorating! Press your chosen vegetables onto the surface of the dough to create any design you like, from floral patterns to abstract art – let your creativity run wild!
Second rising and baking
Cover the decorated focaccia for a second rise of 20 to 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 200°C. Drizzle with additional olive oil and, if desired, sprinkle with sea salt.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Let cool slightly before slicing.
Enjoy this vibrant and flavorful vegan focaccia bread as a starter, side dish, or on its own.
