Simple Sourdough Focaccia Bread Recipe (No Knead)

This simple Sourdough Focaccia bread recipe is one of my all-time favorite ways to enjoy homemade bread at home. Nothing is as satisfying as baking your own bread. The wonderful thing is this: once you start exploring, you open up so many new kinds of bread to enjoy regularly! It’s not just one kind you can make at home – you can make thousands of variations.

We give you step-by-step instructions, options for different topping variations, and everything you need to know to make perfect, beautiful sourdough focaccia bread. And if you fall in love with focaccia — and I’m pretty sure you will — make sure you try this regular focaccia bread recipe, too!

Why You’ll Love Sourdough Focaccia

Flavor. The flavors of good sourdough bread cannot be beaten, and it’s all right here in this recipe. Use a fresh, bubbly, active sourdough starter to make this bread.

Easy homemade bread. Focaccia is an easy, Italian bread that’s got a chewy crumb and a crispy crust. If you’re just starting your sourdough journey, this is a great recipe to make. You are going to love making and eating this simple bread!

No Kneading Required. This bread isn’t kneaded — instead, we fold and stretch to cover the pan when making this simple sourdough focaccia recipe.

What is Sourdough?

Sourdough bread is made from fermented dough which is fermented with yeast and bacteria (also called sourdough starter) to add a distinct flavor and exceptional rise.

What is Focaccia?

A flat, leavened, oven-baked Italian bread that can be used on its own, as a base for pizza, or as a sandwich bread.

Ingredients for Sourdough Focaccia Recipe

• Water Water.
• Sourdough Starter. This needs to be a bubbly active starter, not unfed sourdough discard.
• Active Dry Yeast. Check the expiration date for freshness.
• Granulated Sugar.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Olive oil is an essential ingredient in this recipe. For the best results, use a good quality olive oil.
• Salt. We use fine sea salt in our bread recipes but Kosher or even table salt will work.
• All-Purpose Flour. Bleached or unbleached. Bread flour is also acceptable but will affect the texture.

How To Make Sourdough Focaccia Bread.

Please note, that the printable recipe card has the full list of ingredients, quantities, complete instructions, and nutritional information. The following is a quick overview of the recipe.

Step One. Proof The Yeast for your Sourdough Focaccia Bread.

Mix the warm water, sourdough starter, active dry yeast, and granulated sugar together in a large bowl, then let it set for five minutes.

Step Two. Mix in the remaining ingredients to your Sourdough Focaccia Dough.

Add the olive oil, salt, and flour. Mix until combined and place the bowl in a warm spot to rise for 45 minutes.

Step Three. Rest the dough.

After 45 minutes of rest, fold the dough from the 12 o’clock position to the 6 o’clock position. Repeat until all 4 sides have been folded. Let the dough rest again.

Step Four. Stretch the dough to fit.

Using your fingers, stretch the dough so it covers the baking dish.

Step Five. Let the bread rise.

Let the bread rise for an additional forty-five minutes.

Step Six. Preheat your oven.

Halfway through the rising time, set your oven to 425ºF. If you are using a proof setting on the oven, you will have to wait to preheat the oven until the bread has finished rising.

Step Seven. Bake your Sourdough Focaccia Bread.

Bake your bread until the edges are set and golden brown, and then cool completely on a wire rack.

Hostess Tips and Tricks

The dough will be very thick and sticky; I recommend mixing it with a wooden spoon or Danish Whisk (not a regular whisk, as the dough will get stuck inside, and it will be a mess to clean).

You can fold the dough with your hands; cover your hands with oil or use wet hands as the dough is sticky. Or, my favorite, I used my Danish Dough whisk to fold.

How to Serve Focaccia Bread

• My favorite way to serve focaccia bread is with a high-quality extra virgin olive oil for dipping. To the olive oil, you can add any number of things, including:
  • freshly cracked pepper
  • freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • bread dipping herbs mix or your own combination of garlic, herbs, spices, salt and pepper
  • garlic
• You could even serve this simple sourdough bread recipe on a charcuterie board with meats and cheeses. 
• We love gifting homemade bread. Just wrap it in plastic wrap and add it to a basket with a napkin, wedge of cheese, and dipping oil.

What to serve with Focaccia

Of course, you can never go wrong with a pat of butter, either. The beautiful thing about fresh homemade bread is that it goes with anything! Sourdough Focaccia can be served with any Italian pasta dish but also works well to make paninis or sandwiches, as a base for thick-crust pizza, or as a side dish to a delicious oven baked brisket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you add dry yeast to sourdough starter?

We wanted the complex flavor and texture that sourdough starter brings to bread. Adding dry yeast can speed up fermentation.

Why didn’t my Sourdough Focaccia Bread rise?

Most commonly it has to do with the temperature of your kitchen. If your sourdough is kept below 70ºF, it will be sluggish and slow to rise. Let the dough rise in a warm place.

How To Reheat & Store Sourdough Focaccia

The best way to store focaccia bread?

Once the focaccia is cooled, place it in a zip lock bag and keep it at room temperature for up to three days or in the fridge for up to one week.

Can I freeze sourdough focaccia bread?

Yes. Freeze a whole loaf, half a loaf, or individual slices. Place it in an airtight container, wrap it in parchment paper and saran wrap, or add it to a freezer-quality plastic bag.

How to reheat focaccia?

In a preheated oven set to 325, reheat for 10 minutes or until warmed. Reheat your leftover sourdough focaccia bread in a toaster for a slight crisp or in the air fryer at 350ºF for 3 to 4 minutes.

Sourdough Focaccia Toppings and Mix-ins

Before the Focaccia Bread is baked, add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to the top of the dough and sprinkle it with toppings. Here are a few to try:

• Fresh Rosemary or Dried Rosemary
• Fennel Seeds
• Sesame Seeds
• Parmesan Cheese
• Roasted and ground almonds, walnuts, or pine nuts.
• Cherry Tomatoes are sweet and delicious as they roast on top of the bread.

As it comes out of the oven, slather it in butter and throw on fresh herbs, seeds, or toppings while it is still hot.

In addition to things added after the bread is baked, you can also fold ingredients into the focaccia bread dough for fun variations:

• feta cheese
• cheddar cheese
• pitted olives
• sun-dried tomatoes
• nuts: pine nuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans
• onions
• garlic
• herbs: Italian seasoning, basil, rosemary, thyme, marjoram,
• sweet pesto recipe
• heat: want spicy bread? Add chili powder, red pepper flakes, or diced peppers.

If you enjoyed our Sourdough Focaccia Recipe, I think you’ll enjoy these too!

Bread baking is life! Mastering the art of feeding your family with fresh homemade bread hot from the oven will be a skill cherished for generations. If you enjoy sourdough baking, make some bubbly starter and enjoy our homemade Sourdough Pizza Crust. And it’s not nearly as hard as you think.

This Pullman loaf is a great example of a bread that can literally change the way you live and the way you pack your lunch.

Honey Oat Pan De Mie is another great example of bread that is easy to make and delicious. Making your own Hawaiian Sweet Rolls at home will save you so much money! The only tricky thing about this is — the more homemade bread you make, the more bread your family will consume. So one more loaf for you to try when you are feeling sassy: Green Olive Bread.

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

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