Zuni Café’s Focaccia Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

christine

Let's stop covering things with plastic wrap-not recyclable- use a shower cap or a plate or a damp tea towel.

Carole Cassidy

I bought a bunch of “shower caps” in 3 sizes on Amazon a while back. They are great, reusable many times, easy to wash, and save soooo much plastic wrap.

hermione

I agree. You can also use paper or parchment. Grocery paper bags that are biodegradable are good. Smear a bit of oil inside the bag on the part that will be above the dough. Then put the baking dish or bowl inside and pinch the open end of the bag with a couple of wooden clothespins. Parchment is also good. Just tent it above the dough. Unlike damp tea towels, it doesn't stick to the dough. But I like your plate idea the best and will definitely try it.

Linda

No stand mixers in Ancient Rome, where this was invented!

Gabriela from.Argentina

That's exactly what I do! Let stopusing and overusing plastic!

S McIntire

Aren't shower caps plastic? Damp tea towel, except for the last rising -use a dry tea towel.

Lori Alden Holuta

My favorite breadmaking bowl has a plastic snap-on lid that's held up well for almost 20 years! Perfect for this purpose. I do like the idea of a shower cap, though - and it can be washed and reused many times.

hermsoven

The focaccia was very tasty a half hour out of the oven. I cut it into 3 inch squares and as I wolfed it down I couldn’t imagine a hamburger being inside. Just too much to handle. French fries with this bread is sheer gluttony. I will use half the stipulated rosemary next time, and just bring the bread to the table, cut into smaller rectangles, to eat with any other main course. The recipe should be easy to prepare for any amateur baker. I successfully used Caputo 00 chef’s flour instead of AP.

Jennifer

The second time I baked this, I substituted 25% whole wheat flour for 25% of the bread flour and all-purpose flour; let the dough rest overnight in the refrigerator for the first rising; and baked it in two eight-inch square pans rather than the rectangular. That way it was easy to cut into eight evenly sized buns; makes more sense to me. The flavor was better with the overnight rise and the whole wheat flour too.

Alice Kaiser

Seems to be a discrepancy in the recipe. Roll out dough to 10" by 14", then "stretch" to fit a 9" by 12" pan? My dough fir quite comfortably in a half sheet pan, 12" by 17".

Kristin

I didn't read the entire recipe, and didn't have time for a 40 min rise in the pan but was using a larger sheet pan, so it was fine. I think it would have been great brushed with a tiny bit of olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt.

suzanne

My rise times were significantly longer than the recipe suggests, Step 7 requiring closer to an hour-and-a-half to see the dough reach the edge of the pan. Otherwise, everything else was right on and made for one tasty hamburger.

Susan

I found this to be kind of bland and lacking in the nice spongy, pull-apart texture I look for in foccacia; it was more like wonder bread. Does anyone know how this dough responds to being refrigerated for a few days before baking? I'd try it again if someone said it adds complexity to the flavor. Otherwise, I'm searching for a different recipe.

Hannah

Very tasty - and easy, too! Made as-written but for one change: I halved the recipe, and formed the dough into four buns. This was one bun fewer than suggested for the half recipe, but I found this made for a not-too-large burger bun, redolent with rosemary. An idea for the future: double the number of buns while keeping the dough amount the same (so, eight buns for the half recipe, or sixteen for the full) and you have slider buns!

JeffB

I cut the dough in two and cooked it in my air fryer, after the dough spent the night in the fridge. It came out perfectly.

Gabi

Ok! Not great. The regular focaccia recipe is much better. I wanted to make it same day and although I got it same day I think it’s just not worth it. took much longer to rise for me as well. Everyone talking about single use plastic. It doesn’t matter what we do. Kylie Jenner took a 3 minute private flight. The mega rich and corporations are the biggest polluters, if it isn’t equitable for you to buy a nice beeswax cover or shower cap use your plastic. Let’s not gatekeep bread.

Diana

It could be the shape. I have never made Focaccia to resemble corn bread cubes, but my Focaccia usually looks like the French Fougasse, which is shaped like a banana leaf with large holes in it. I will try to make it with this recipe as soon as I am able, and will circle back with comments.Being a frequent guest of Zuni Cafe, I cannot imagine anything cooked there that is not delicious.

Francesca M. Austin

I would store this in beeswax wrap - if there’s any leftover to store! Way to go Ms. Callan.

Gerry

Quick and easy, but does not have the crumb (big holes) and texture of traditional focaccia. Even so, if the amount of dough could be coordinated with the size of the pan, the thickness (which as too thick, as is) could be adjusted to split for sandos or for burgers. (But, so could Italianate focaccia)

Paula

Although I agree that this is nothing like a traditional focaccia, I really like this recipe. It doesn’t have a lot of taste, so the rosemary is a must. But it has a really nice texture. It’s soft and fluffy yet has some body in the bite. Even good the next day, not dry at all.

Cory Cater

The focaccia was very tasty a half hour out of the oven. I cut itinto 3 inch squares and as I wolfed it down I couldn’t imagine a hamburger being inside. Just too much to handle. French fries with this bread is sheer gluttony. I will use half the stipulated rosemary next time, and just bring the bread to the table, cut into smaller rectangles, to eat with any other main course. The recipe should be easy to prepare for any amateur baker. I successfully used Caputo 00 chef’s flour instead of AP.

Jennie

Eh--not flavorful, and not a good texture--soft inside, but without the unctuousness of other focaccia. Maybe it's not intended to be like other focaccia. Easy though.

Jennifer

The second time I baked this, I substituted 25% whole wheat flour for 25% of the bread flour and all-purpose flour; let the dough rest overnight in the refrigerator for the first rising; and baked it in two eight-inch square pans rather than the rectangular. That way it was easy to cut into eight evenly sized buns; makes more sense to me. The flavor was better with the overnight rise and the whole wheat flour too.

Susan

I found this to be kind of bland and lacking in the nice spongy, pull-apart texture I look for in foccacia; it was more like wonder bread. Does anyone know how this dough responds to being refrigerated for a few days before baking? I'd try it again if someone said it adds complexity to the flavor. Otherwise, I'm searching for a different recipe.

Hannah

Very tasty - and easy, too! Made as-written but for one change: I halved the recipe, and formed the dough into four buns. This was one bun fewer than suggested for the half recipe, but I found this made for a not-too-large burger bun, redolent with rosemary. An idea for the future: double the number of buns while keeping the dough amount the same (so, eight buns for the half recipe, or sixteen for the full) and you have slider buns!

KL

My initial rising time was off also but I keep a very cool house in the winter, which worked out perfectly since I was able to go off & attend an afternoon event & 4 hours later the fociccia was ready for step 3. Letting the dough rest often is key to getting it to fit in the pan. I did drizzle the top of the fociccia with olive oil and sprinkled it with salt flakes before baking. Wiping one side of the plastic wrap with olive oil keeps it from sticking to the dough.

Susan

I used 1 tsp zahtar in lieu of rosemary and sprinkled and lightly pressed into top with “everything bagel seasoning” just before baking. Delicious with butter.

suzanne

My rise times were significantly longer than the recipe suggests, Step 7 requiring closer to an hour-and-a-half to see the dough reach the edge of the pan. Otherwise, everything else was right on and made for one tasty hamburger.

Gayle

Is 1.5 tsp yeast one packet? Fresh or dried rosemary?

Hannah

Yeast packets tend to contain 2 1/4 teaspoons of yeast. Use fresh rosemary.

Alice Kaiser

Seems to be a discrepancy in the recipe. Roll out dough to 10" by 14", then "stretch" to fit a 9" by 12" pan? My dough fir quite comfortably in a half sheet pan, 12" by 17".

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Zuni Café’s Focaccia Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Which flour is best for focaccia? ›

Focaccia made with high-protein bread flour produces the best results, but all-purpose flour will work as well.

What makes focaccia bread different from other breads? ›

Focaccia is a type of Italian bread made with yeast and a strong, high-gluten flour (like bread flour) and baked in flat sheet pans. Unlike pizza dough, it's left to rise after being rolled out before going in the oven.

What are the two types of focaccia? ›

Venetian focaccia is sweet, baked for Easter and resembles the traditional Christmas cake panettone. Sugar and butter are used instead of olive oil and salt. Focaccia barese, which is common in Puglia in southern Italy, is made with durum wheat flour and topped with salt, rosemary, tomatoes or olives.

Why is my focaccia not fluffy? ›

Why is my focaccia not fluffy or chewy? It could be the type of flour you used. The best flour to use to make focaccia bread is bread flour which gives you fluffy baked bread. Or, it could also be because you did not knead the dough enough for the gluten to form a structure which can result in flat or dense bread.

Why is my focaccia dense and flat? ›

Not enough water: This can leave you with dense, dry focaccia. For accuracy, measure out your ingredients using weight instead of cups to ensure you have the right ratio of ingredients. 2. Not proved enough: Depending on the temperature, focaccia dough can take anywhere between 1-3 hours to proof.

What is the best oil for focaccia bread? ›

Olive oil: Makes focaccia taste delicious, adding to its texture and flavor. The secret to the best focaccia bread is using a great olive oil.

How unhealthy is focaccia bread? ›

Like croissants and brioche buns, focaccia is high in calories and fat. Most people aren't aware of it, but it contains a lot of olive oil, which in excess has the same effect. To lose weight, people should choose whole-grain or rye bread, which has more fibre and is lower in fat and calories.

Should focaccia be thick or thin? ›

The thickness of a focaccia can vary, too, but an authentic focaccia genovese should be rather thin, even if it needn't be quite as thin as my version presented here. So many non-Italian renditions of “focaccia” are more like bread in their thickness.

Which is healthier focaccia or sourdough? ›

Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. Sourdough also contains less gluten than other bread.

Why is focaccia expensive? ›

So why does it tend to be more expensive to purchase? Friends who have worked in the restaurant industry had some thoughts: Focaccia requires a lot of olive oil, which is pricey (though some other breads call for butter and eggs, which pencil out to more in my own Kirkland-brand-olive-oil kitchen).

What is a good add in for focaccia? ›

Herbs and garlic are popular toppings, but you can add anything like olives, tomatoes, sesame seeds, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, pesto, caramelized onions, and more. Pizza is a meal, but focaccia can be part of a meal, an appetizer, a soup dipper, a sauce soaker-upper, and even the crust of a sandwich or panini.

Does focaccia have to rise twice? ›

Transfer to the pan - The dough is transferred to an oiled pan and spread out slightly, and placed in a warm place. Rise focaccia in the pan - The dough rises a second time, uncovered, until doubled in size, puffy, and jiggly. This rising time depends on whether you started with room temperature or cold dough.

Should focaccia be overproofed? ›

Can you overproof focaccia dough? You can definitely overproof focaccia, but it is difficult. There is so much oil in the dough, and very little sugar, so the yeast is "sleepy" or slow due to both of those elements and less likely to overproof.

Can you over knead focaccia? ›

Tips for the perfect homemade Focaccia.

Don't over-knead your dough– In the first step, make sure the dough has come together enough that it's sticky but not smooth, this will help to make the much desired air bubbles.

Should you stretch and fold focaccia? ›

Give the dough 4 sets of stretch and folds at 30-minute intervals, where the first set starts 30 minutes after the start of bulk fermentation.

What is the best flour for baking bread? ›

While bread flour is the best option, it can sometimes be used if you don't have bread flour. “Check the protein content,” advises Chef Jürgen, since it can vary from brand to brand, and an all-purpose flour that contains protein on the higher end of the range, 12 to 13 percent, will produce a better outcome.

What is the best Italian flour for bread? ›

Grano duro is slightly yellow, more granular, and more commonly used for pasta and some breads in the south of Italy. It's also knows as durum wheat flour. Grano tenero is generally what we think of as white flour, and is more broadly used in bread, pizza, and pastry, and northern pasta doughs.

What is the best strong flour for sourdough? ›

Sourdough Flours - The best flour for making Sourdough
  • Matthews Cotswold Churchill Strong White Bakers Flour 16kg. ...
  • Matthews Cotswold Organic Premium Wholemeal Flour. ...
  • Matthews Cotswold Organic Stoneground Wholemeal Bread Flour 1.5kg, 4.5kg & 7.5kg. ...
  • Matthews Cotswold Organic Strong White Bread Flour 1.5kg, 4.5kg & 7.5kg.

What is the most common type of flour used in bread making? ›

All-purpose flour is best used for: cookies, muffins, bread, pie crusts, pancakes, biscuits, pizza dough, and pasta.

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