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sourdough focaccia
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4.55 from 20 reviews

Sourdough Focaccia with Crispy Garlic & Rosemary

Eileen Gray
Light and crusty Sourdough Focaccia bread with crispy garlic, rosemary and sea salt.
Prep Time1 hour
Bake Time20 minutes
Rising Time12 hours
Total Time13 hours 20 minutes
Servings:16 servings

Ingredients

Focaccia Dough

  • 8 oz active sourdough starter (1 cup, 100% hydration)
  • 10 oz warm water (1 1/4 cups)
  • 2 1/2 oz whole wheat flour (1/2 cup)
  • 12 1/2 oz unbleached all-purpose flour (2 1/2 cups, see note)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
  • 2 oz olive oil (1/4 cup)

Crispy Garlic

  • 1 head garlic (peel & mince the cloves)
  • 2 oz olive oil (1/4 cup)

Finish

  • 1 scant tablespoon roughly chopped fresh rosemary (from about 1 large or 2 small sprigs)
  • 1.5 teaspoons flaky sea salt

Instructions

Make the dough (day 1)

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large mixing bowl, combine the starter with water and whole wheat flour. Add 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour to form a thick batter. Cover the bowl and set aside for 30 minutes.
  • If using a stand mixer switch to the dough hook. Add the salt, olive oil and the remaining flour, Knead on medium low speed for 5 minutes (speed 3 on my stand mixer). If mixing by hand stir in as much flour as you can, then turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand.
  • The dough will start out quite sticky but will clear the bowl and cling to the hook after kneading. If working by hand, keep your hands and the surface floured to prevent the dough from sticking. This is a fairly wet dough.
  • Scrape the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, turning once to coat. Cover the bowl and set aside at room temperature for 3-5 hours. Every hour repeat the following procedure: Uncover the bowl, lift one side of the dough over into the middle of the dough. Repeat with the other three sides of the dough then flip the dough over. You're basically turning the dough inside-out to redistribute the yeast. By now the dough should be lively, elastic and airy. If the dough is still sluggish give it another hour or two at room temperature.
  • Put the dough in the refrigerator overnight. Alternately, you can go ahead with shaping the dough if you want to bake it the same day.

Bake the Focaccia (Day 2)

  • Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Add the garlic to the hot oil and cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until golden brown. Be careful not to let it burn. Strain the garlic, reserving the garlic flavored oil and the garlic separately.
  • Take the dough out of the refrigerator. Lightly oil a 1/2 sheet pan with half of the garlic olive oil. Place the dough onto the oiled pan (trying not to deflate too much) and flip it over to coat it with a film of oil. Use your fingers to spread the dough to a 1/2" thick square or rectangle. Cover the dough with plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rise for about 1 hour until well risen and puffy.
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Use your fingers to dimple the top of the dough all over. Brush with the remaining garlic flavored olive oil, sprinkle with crispy garlic, sea salt and rosemary.
  • Bake about 15-20 minutes until puffed and golden brown.

Video

Notes

If measuring the flour by volume use the “dip & sweep” method. That is, dip the measuring cup into the flour bin, overfill it, then sweep away the excess.
The recipe can be halved and baked in a cast iron skillet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 348mg