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How to make homemade tomato focaccia bread?
Focaccia bread is an extremely versatile Italian dish, which can be served as such, or can successfully accompany any kind of dish, starting from cooked food, stews, salads. I don’t think it fits next to pizza or pasta, but in the end, everyone is free to combine the dishes as they like. π
Today I have chosen to present you an extremely simple and delicious tomato focaccia bread recipe, but you must remember that focaccia bread can be seasoned with other toppings or spices, depending on your preference. For example, focaccia bread can be prepared with roasted garlic, rosemary and Parmesan, salami, or other ingredients that you find in the fridge or in the pantry.
For this tomato focaccia bread recipe, I used fresh tomatoes, grown organically in the garden, Parmesan cheese and rosemary because I wanted to take advantage of the summer season, suitable for eating fresh, juicy tomatoes.
For the dough I used the Tomato Focaccia recipe, from the Cookidoo platform, because it is easy for me to use the recipes already tested by Vorwerk, as a Thermomix owner. As I have told you on other occasions, I use this kitchen device to ease my cooking day by day.
Thus, by preparing an extremely simple dough and adding the toppings and spices you like, you can get an absolutely fantastic homemade focaccia bread in a short time.
When do we eat focaccia bread?
I have to admit that I introduced focaccia bread into our family’s diet quite recently. Honestly, before I tried to prepare it, I had the impression that focaccia bread is a much more difficult dish to cook. But after trying to bake homemade focaccia bread for the first time, I fell irreparably in love with this extremely versatile Italian dish.
Why is it a versatile preparation? Because it can be served in many ways. Obviously, the easiest way to serve focaccia bread is to eat it as it is, as an appetizer, finger food, comfort food, or simply like a filling snack.
If you want to prepare a more complex meal, then you can prepare a warm meal, with or without meat, depending on your preference. Recently, we chose to serve tomato focaccia bread next to turkey stew, and it seemed like a perfect combination. But as I already mentioned, focaccia bread can be served next to a salad, next to a fish, or even next to some grilled vegetables, in case you follow a weight loss diet.
My daughter, Sofia, loves to enjoy focaccia even when eating soup, so in the end, everyone is free to make the combination that suits their taste.
Focaccia bread recipe ingredients list
The list of ingredients needed for the focaccia bread recipe is very short and simple. Thus, to get this delicious Italian dish you will need the following ingredients:
– All-purpose flour: personally, I use all-purpose flour, but you can also use bread flour just as well. After all, focaccia bread is an Italian dish that is similar in some ways to pizza crust, so I can say that both types of flour are very suitable for homemade focaccia bread recipe.
– Instant yeast: it is again my choice, but you can equally use instant yeast or fresh yeast. I choose the first option because it seems a little easier to use than fresh yeast, which should initially be dissolved in a smaller amount of liquid, to be incorporated evenly into the dough composition.
– Water: it is an indispensable ingredient in any dough recipe, because liquid is needed to incorporate the flour and the rest of the ingredients.
– Olive oil: it is necessary because the focaccia bread dough is placed on a tray greased with a generous amount of olive oil, and then oil is also added on top of the dough layer, to obtain a slightly crispy crust for the delicious focaccia bread.
– Tomatoes: if you choose to prepare tomato focaccia bread, like me, I recommend that you use either organic grown tomatoes, fresh in the summer season, or choose the cherry tomato version, which has an intense flavor. You can also choose the topping option with roasted tomatoes, which goes great with a little roasted garlic.
– Parmesan cheese: this is almost indispensable in any Italian dish. Fortunately, my daughter Sofia loves it, so we also use it a lot in our family meals. Honestly, Sofia eats it empty many times because she can’t help but savor it whenever she sees it π
– Rosemary: I chose to use packaged rosemary, from the store, because that’s all I had at home. If you have the possibility, use sprigs of fresh rosemary, the aroma will certainly be more intense. In the end you have the opportunity again to choose any Italian seasoning you like; the result will surely be delicious.
Having said that, we will move on to the homemade focaccia bread recipe that I prepared for you today.
Full Recipe – Tomato focaccia bread with parmesan
As I already mentioned in this article, the recipe I used for Tomato focaccia bread is one tested by Vorwerk and available on the Cookidoo platform.
Tomato Focaccia bread recipe β a delicious homemade tomatoes, Parmesan and rosemary focaccia
Equipment
- 1 Thermomix
- 1 Tray
- 1 Oven
Ingredients
- 500 g all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 Β½ tsp dried instant yeast or 20 g fresh yeast crumbled
- 30 g olive oil plus extra for greasing
- 350 g water
- 1 tsp salt
- 30 pcs cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 tbsp Fresh rosemary chopped
- Parmesan cheese shredded
- 1 tsp coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Lightly oil a large bowl and large piece of cling film then set aside
- Place flour, sugar, yeast, oil, water and salt in mixing bowl then mix 20 sec/speed 6. Knead Dough β 2 min
- Transfer sticky dough to oiled bowl. Return mixing bowl to base and spin remaining dough off blades 5 sec/speed 6. Scrape out excess dough and add to bowl. Cover with prepared cling film and leave to prove until doubled in size (approx. 1-2 hours). Towards the end of rising time, oil a large baking tray then set aside
- Spread dough out on prepared baking tray with aid of oiled spatula then leave to prove for a further 30 minutes
- Preheat oven to 220Β°C
- Using oiled fingertips, make indentations all over the risen dough
- Press tomato halves, cut sides up, into the dough
- Sprinkle evenly with shredded Parmesan, chopped rosemary needles, coarse salt, black pepper and extra water, then drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 20 minutes (220Β°C) or until golden brown
- Allow to cool on baking tray for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack. Eat warm or allow to cool completely
Video
Nutrition
Enjoy!
This homemade tomato focaccia bread was made using the Thermomix, but you already know that you donβt have to own this kitchen gadget in order to obtain the same incredible delicious result. So just feel free to use your hands or a kneading machine to prepare the dough and the final result will be amazing!
If you donβt understand how to use the toppings for your focaccia bread, please check out this short video that could help you:
Video Recipe – Tomato Focaccia Bread
Until the next article, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and reviews in the comments section. Have a great day!
FAQ
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What is tomato focaccia bread?
Tomato focaccia bread is a delightful variation of the traditional Italian flatbread known as focaccia. It’s distinguished by the addition of juicy ripe tomatoes on top, which are often complemented by other flavors such as rosemary and Parmesan cheese, creating a savory treat perfect for any meal of the day.
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Can focaccia bread be frozen?
Yes, focaccia bread can be frozen. It’s best to slice it into portions, wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap, and then place them in a freezer bag. This way, you can easily take out only what you need. To defrost, simply leave it at room temperature or warm it up in an oven.
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Can you make tomato focaccia bread in a bread machine?
Absolutely! While the traditional method involves hand-kneading, a bread machine can do the work just fine. Follow your machine’s instructions for the dough cycle, then transfer the dough to an oiled pan, add your toppings, and bake in the oven.
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Is focaccia bread like pizza dough?
Focaccia bread and pizza dough are similar in that they both use flour, yeast, water, and salt. The difference comes in the preparation and baking. Focaccia is often richer (thanks to more olive oil) and thicker, with a soft, airy texture inside and a crusty exterior. Pizza dough is typically rolled or stretched thinner and tends to be crispier. Also, the toppings for focaccia are usually mixed into the dough or spread on top before baking, while pizza toppings are added after the dough is partially baked.
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Can you make focaccia bread with pizza dough?
Yes, you can make focaccia bread with pizza dough. The two doughs are very similar, both being yeast-based and requiring a similar preparation process. The main difference is how they’re baked and topped – focaccia is typically topped with olive oil, herbs, and sometimes ingredients like tomatoes, then baked in a well-oiled pan to create a crusty exterior.
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When to add tomatoes to tomato focaccia bread?
Tomatoes should be added to focaccia just before it goes into the oven. They should be thinly sliced and simply laid on top of the dough. This way, the heat of the oven will roast the tomatoes, bringing out their natural sweetness and flavor.
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Is tomato focaccia bread healthy?
Focaccia bread can be part of a healthy diet because it’s made from simple, whole ingredients. It contains complex carbohydrates from the flour, healthy fats from olive oil, and can be topped with a variety of nutrient-rich ingredients like tomatoes and herbs. As with any food, portion control is key.
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Tomato focaccia bread calories?
The caloric content of tomato focaccia bread can vary depending on the specific recipe and portion size. On average, a serving (around 100 grams) of tomato focaccia bread might contain around 250-300 calories.
