What is focaccina?
Focaccina is an appetizer-sized portion of regular focaccia. This bread needs no introduction since it is such a ubiquitous baked good. It is believed that focaccia originated in ancient Greece, and countless people still enjoy eating focaccia to this day.
One thing’s for certain, we will never get tired of eating focaccina. It has a soft yet crunchy texture that keeps you wanting more. If you’re ever in the mood for homemade bread, you won’t regret making some of these delicious focaccina recipes.
1. Classic Rosemary Focaccina Recipe
You can’t go wrong with the classics, and we believe this focaccina is a pure and simple appetizer that everyone will enjoy. All you need is seven ingredients to make classic rosemary focaccina.
The recipe instructions call for a stand mixer, but you could mix and knead the dough by hand if you don’t have a stand mixer available. When using a stand mixer, mix the dough to the point where it no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl.
Next, let the dough rest and double in size. After the first proof, punch down the dough and form it inside a rectangular baking tray.
Let it rise one more time before baking the focaccina for 40 minutes in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven. Allow the bread to cool before cutting into it, then serve it with your favorite Italian entree.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
2. Pesto Focaccina Recipe
If you’ve ever had leftover pesto sauce you didn’t know how to use, this decadent pesto focaccina appetizer is the perfect way to utilize it. All you need is ten ingredients and about two and a half hours to make this delicious pesto focaccina appetizer.
This recipe describes how to mix the dough from scratch in a regular mixing bowl, making it a no-brainer for any home cook, even those who have little to no baking experience.
The other ingredients you will need are cherry tomatoes, rosemary, red pepper flakes, and olive oil to create this focaccina. Lastly, this flavorful appetizer is topped with cheese just before serving.
Fresh mozzarella cheese is always a good choice, but you could opt for burrata cheese to further elevate this appetizer. If this recipe doesn’t make you crave focaccina, we don’t know what will.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
3. Roasted Tomato Focaccina Recipe
This next focaccina recipe is reminiscent of a cheeseless pizza. The raw ingredients you will need are all-purpose flour, active dry yeast, sugar, water, salt, and olive oil.
Start by mixing the dough in a stand mixer at a low speed. Once the flour is mostly incorporated, turn the speed to medium for about 10 minutes. This part eliminates the need to knead by hand.
Next, let the dough rise for an hour in a greased mixing bowl. Then, punch it down and form it into a rectangular baking tray. Top the raw focaccina dough with roasted tomatoes, rosemary, thyme, and Italian seasoning.
Add the iconic divots in the dough with your fingers and let it rise once more. Lastly, bake it in a 425-degree Fahrenheit oven for 25 minutes until golden brown.
We love how aromatic this roasted tomato focaccina is, and we’re certain anyone sitting at your dinner table will want to devour this appetizer in a heartbeat.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
4. Black Olive and Rosemary Focaccina Recipe
Black olives add a nice touch to yet another decadent variation of focaccina. We think this would be the perfect addition to any charcuterie board.
The recipe for black olive and rosemary focaccina follows the same basic steps as the very first recipe in this list. Don’t worry if you don’t have a stand mixer though, you can mix the dough by hand with the help of a wooden spoon and a large mixing bowl.
Next, flour a clean surface and knead the dough by hand for at least five minutes, or until the focaccina dough becomes smooth and malleable. Let it rise in a warm, dry place for an hour.
Don’t forget to make the indents in the dough with your fingers after its second rise, then bake it at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
5. Caramelized Onion Focaccina Recipe
If you love onions, you will find it hard to beat this scrumptious focaccina recipe. Caramelized onions are indeed the star of this show, but this appetizer also features earthy oregano and melty provolone cheese.
This focaccina recipe calls for bread flour and it takes no less than 16 steps to make it from start to finish. Yes, it sounds like a lot of effort, but we promise that the end result is so satisfying and well worth your time.
We consider this focaccina to be one of the ultimate breakfast sandwich breads out there, but it also goes well with spezzatino or gnocchi soup dishes.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
6. Spinach Artichoke Italian Focaccia
If you’re into spinach artichoke dip, you will love this focaccina recipe. The recipe calls for sugar, active dry yeast, and warm water just like any other homemade bread.
First, let the yeast mixture sit and froth for about five minutes. If you notice the yeast doesn’t activate, that means either the water temperature was incorrect or the yeast is no good.
Once that’s ready, add all the remaining ingredients to make the dough. You will need all-purpose flour, salt, spinach, feta cheese, and artichoke hearts.
Stir everything together with a wooden spoon, then coat the dough in olive oil and let it rise inside a mixing bowl. Transfer it to a metal 9 X 13 pan and let it double in size once more before baking it.
The author of this focaccina recipe describes it as ultra-light and airy, making it the perfect savory appetizer for pizzas, soups, or salads.
Get the full recipe and directions from Cooking for Keeps.
7. Keto Focaccia
Anyone on the keto diet will love this version of focaccina. It calls for a fathead dough, which consists of mozzarella, cream cheese, almond flour, baking powder, and egg.
It starts by melting the cheeses together. Believe it or not, the author says to melt them in a glass bowl in the microwave. Next, stir in the flour, baking powder, and egg with a rubber spatula and quickly knead the dough before the cheese solidifies.
The best part about this focaccina is that you don’t have to let the dough rise, simply shape it in an 8 X 8 pan. Lastly, top it with rosemary, coarse salt, and olive oil spray and bake it at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Slice and serve this keto-friendly appetizer after letting the focaccina cool for another 15 minutes inside the pan.
Get the full recipe and directions from Healthy Recipes Blog.
Focaccina is a delicious and addicting appetizer that pairs well with virtually any type of Italian dish. From basic toppings such as fresh rosemary and olive oil to unique additions like caramelized onions or pesto sauce, any of these appetizers are sure to satisfy your craving for homemade bread.
If you’ve never made focaccina before, now is your chance to try it out. Don’t forget to share your thoughts and tell us about your favorite focaccina recipe!
If you like this post, we think you’ll really like our Best Sausage Bread Recipes post.
