The bread almost makes itself!

Did you notice there’s NO KNEADING? I grew up with mum making trays and trays of bread rolls, both for their restaurant and then for pleasure. I watched her making bread from scratch. It takes a lot of hard work with lots and lots of kneading. That’s why as an adult I have invested in a breadmaker. But then I discovered this No-Knead Focaccia Bread… it’s changed my life.

You know, amazing recipes exist in places you least expect. That’s definitely the case with this recipe. In the months following when COVID first hit, I would watch TikTok quite frequently as a way to escape reality. But lately I’m only watching once a fortnight at best. This recipe was posted on there and I knew I had to try it out. It’s honestly delicious. I couldn’t believe how simple this No-Knead Focaccia Bread is to make. No more than 5 minutes of mixing is required!

For history buffs, here’s some info for you. Focaccia has Italian origins dating back to the beginning of the first millennium BC although it’s a little sketchy as it could have begun in Greece (more details here). The name of the focaccia comes from the Latin “focus”, that is “cooked on fire”. Focaccia is a style of bread that is relatively flat, usually quite plain inside, but topped with olive oil and herbs, occasionally with other ingredients.

The ingredients

This No-Knead Focaccia Bread recipe has a few common ingredients – flour, yeast, sugar, salt and water. What you add on top is up to you. I like to keep it fairly simple with rock salt and fresh rosemary. You can get quite creative with the toppings you add before baking. Everything from olives, anchovies and chillies to vegetables such as roasted peppers, grilled tomatoes and caramelized onions.

Since there aren’t that many ingredients, use the best you have. With the olive oil, choose extra virgin olive oil that is robust and full of flavour. Use dry active yeast that hasn’t expired. If adding rosemary on top, fresh rosemary is best!

Expect rave reviews!

As it’s baking the aroma is intoxicating. It fills the whole house with deliciousness. The family hover around the kitchen waiting for the bread to come out. As soon as it does, the entire loaf is demolished in literally an hour. Both the family and neighbours have given it double thumbs up.

No-Knead Focaccia Bread

The easiest bread to make...ever! This focaccia bread is fluffy and full of flavour. Just add your favourite focaccia topping combinations.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 40 minutes mins

Servings 6 people

Ingredients

 

Dough

• 2 cups plain flour
• 1.5 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup warm water

Topping

• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
• 2 teaspoons rock salt
• olive oil

Instructions

 

• Add all dough ingredients into a bowl. With a wooden spoon, mx together to combine. Roughly shape dough into a ball at bottom of the bowl. Put a tea towel on top and leave the bowl in a warm area for 1hr, or until the dough has risen.
• Grease a square 25x25cm oven-safe dish with olive oil. Make sure you grease up the sides. Depending on your dish, this may be enough, or line with baking paper if required. Add the dough and shape it into the square dish. Put a tea towel on top and leave it in a warm area for 30min, or until the dough has risen.
• Dimple the dough with your fingertips. Sprinkle evenly around the rosemary and rock salt. Drizzle olive oil all over the top (about 2 tablespoons).
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes on 210°C, until both the top and underside is golden and crisp. Once out of the oven, remove from the dish onto a cooling rack.

Notes

• When mixing the dough with a wooden spoon, make sure all of the flour is well incorporated. You don't want any little pockets of dry flour. Stir until you think it’s well mixed and then stir a little more.
• Cut the bread into wedges, crossways, or strips. Whatever works for you!
• This is best served warm. Perfect with a light salad or a winter soup.