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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.

Sideview of a slice of sourdough focaccia bread with a soft tender crumb an crispy crust - Hostess At Heart
Same Day Sourdough Focaccia Bread

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 used to make same day sourdough focaccia bread including starter, flour, yeast, salt, water, and olive oil. Hostess At Heart
Sourdough Focaccia Ingredients

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 ingredient 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.

Mixing bowl containing water, sourdough starter, yeast, and sugar. Hostess At Heart
Combine water, starter, yeast and sugar.

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.

Flour added to wet sourdough ingredients in a mixing bowl - Hostess At Heart
Add olive oil, salt, and flour

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.

Stretched sour dough foccacia bread covering the bottom of a baking dish - Hostess At Heart
Stretch the dough out to cover the baking pan.

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.

Top down view of a baking pan of baked sourdough focaccia bread - Hostess At Heart

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

A slice of bread dipped into a bowl filled with olive oil and spices - Hostess At Heart
  • 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.

Front view of pieces of foccacia sitting on top of each other - Hostess At Heart

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.

Top down view of pieces of sourdough focaccia sitting on a cutting board - Hostess At Heart

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.

Top down view of a pan of baked focaccia sourdough bread with a piece missing - Hostess At Heart

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.
Sideview of a stack of sliced pieces of sour dough focaccia bread on a cutting board - Hostess At Heart

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.

Close-up sideview of slices of sour dough focaccia bread stacked on top of each other. Hostess At Heart

Simple Sourdough Focaccia Bread Recipe

Author: Julie Menghini
This simple Sourdough Focaccia Recipe has the tender crumb and delicious flavor of sourdough in just a short time. It's perfect for sourdough beginners!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Rising time 2 hours 15 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Keyword: Focaccia, Sourdough Bread
Servings: 9

Ingredients
 
 

  • ¾ cup warm water water between 95 to 100 degrees F
  • 1 cup sourdough starter
  • 1 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 5 tbsp olive oil divided (2 tablespoons for the dough and 3 for the baking dish)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 ⅔ cup unbleached all-purpose flour

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, add the warm water, sourdough starter, active dry yeast, and granulated sugar. Mix to combine and let it sit for 5 to 6 minutes.
  • Add the olive oil, salt, and flour. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated, no more dry flour.
  • The dough will be very thick and sticky, I would recommend mixing the dough 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).
  • Cover the dough and let it sit for 45 minutes.
  • After 45 minutes, fold the dough. You can fold the dough with your hands, just make sure to cover your hands with oil as the dough is sticky. Or, my favorite, I used my Danish Dough whisk to fold.
    When looking at the bowl, take the dough at 12 o'clock and fold back to 6 o’clock. Turn the bowl 90 degrees and repeat. Once you have done all 4 sides, cover and rest for an additional 45 minutes.
  • After 45 minutes, pour 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Pour the dough into the prepared dish. Using your fingers, stretch the dough so it covers the dish.
  • Rise for an additional 45 minutes. *OPTIONAL* Sprinkle some Kosher salt on top of the dough
  • 20 minutes into the rise, start the oven to 425 °F.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 28 minutes or until the edges are set and golden.
  • Cool for 3 to 4 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 519mgPotassium: 28mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 0.5IUVitamin C: 0.001mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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An image for Pinterest of cut square pieces of sourdough focaccia bread on top of a cutting board. Hostess At Heart
The Best Sourdough Focaccia Bread Recipe
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)
Recipe Rating




Patricia Webb

Monday 22nd of January 2024

How would I adjust the starter if I wanted to omit the yeast?

Julie Menghini

Saturday 27th of January 2024

I'm so sorry Patricia for not seeing this recipe! You can replace the yeast with an additional 100 grams of starter or approximately 2/3 cups.

minnie

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

Soft, chewy and filled with incredible flavors. I want to try to make it with cherry tomatoes and herbs next.

Julie Menghini

Thursday 14th of December 2023

I'm so glad that you enjoyed this recipe. I love it with blistered cherry tomatoes and herbs.

Janelle

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

I was looking to make something different with my sourdough starter and found your recipe. It turned out delicious! 5 stars!

Julie Menghini

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

I'm so glad that you gave it a try and that it worked out for you. Thank you!

Susan

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

This might be my favorite bread to make now! Thank you!

Julie Menghini

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

Thank you, Susan! It's so easy and delicious every time.

Jennifer

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

This and a bowl of olive oil and herbs and I am all set for dinner!

Julie Menghini

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

I agree! That sounds like the perfect accompaniment at dinner.

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