Foccacia Barese Recipe

From our last trip to the south of Italy (Bari, Puglia area) I came back with many cooking ideas. But, first of all, I want to show you probably the tastiest and most popular focaccia in Italy - Focaccia Barese. It's extremely good, fluffy, tender, crunchy, flavorful, in short delicious. The whole family appreciated it, even the children. Initially, when I saw it had such simple ingredients, I didn't have high expectations. I said to myself: only tomatoes and olives, ok, it will be like a kind of bread with tomatoes ...

I tasted Focaccia Barese in its original place so I really want to show you the authentic, traditional recipe. I was inspired by the famous Panificio Fiore in Bari, where there is a huge queue of tourists every day, namely for this focaccia with tomatoes and olives.

Focaccia Barese is not necessarily very thick, as other traditional focaccia with other fillings might be. My girls told me that this is how they like it better, when it's thinner and all the flavors from the filling feel very intense, so the bread doesn't dominate the taste. But it's not as thin as a pizza. I would say this is the perfect balance between bread and filling, if you want to try an excellent focaccia, just like the original Italian one.

Ingredients
Water
300 ml
Active dry yeast
10 g
or 25g of fresh yeast
White flour
500 g
Salt
15 g
Sugar
10 g
Tomatoes
1 kg
and, optionally, 6-7 cherry tomatoes
Green olives, pitted
200 g
Oregano
2 tsp
Extravirgin olive oil
50 ml
Step by step
Step 1

In a cup, combine 10g of dry yeast with 300ml of lukewarm water. Stir, leave for 5 minutes.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 1
Step 2

In a large bowl, combine 500g of white flour with 15g of salt.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 2
Step 3

Pour over the yeast, mix with a spoon or spatula.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 3
Step 4

Add 10g of sugar (about 1 tablespoon) and start kneading the dough with your hands.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 4
Step 5

I prefer to work the dough on the table. Initially, it's slightly sticky but, in a few minutes, it gets smooth, soft and not sticky at all.

Do not dust the table with flour at all during this process.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 5
Step 6

Grease the bowl with a little olive oil, transfer the dough ball back to it, cover with a towel and let rise for 1 hour at room temperature.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 6
Step 7

While the dough is rising, prepare the tomato filling.

Wash and core the tomatoes, cut into quarters or larger slices and place in a bowl.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 7
Step 8

Then, with your hands, break the tomatoes into smaller pieces, not too small, though.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 8
Step 9

Optionally, you can also add some cherry tomatoes for an even more beautiful focaccia.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 9
Step 10

The dough has risen, cut into 2 equal pieces.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 10
Step 11

Brush with olive oil 2 round pizza trays, mine are 28-30cm in diameter.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 11
Step 12

Take a piece of dough and make the first focaccia. Place in the pan and press with your fingers to spread all over the bottom.

The second one (we will have 2 focaccia) is made 15-20 minutes after you shaped the first one.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 12
Step 13

Sprinkle with olive oil on top.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 13
Step 14

First, arrange some cherry tomatoes cut in halves. It's optional, you can skip this step.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 14
Step 15

Then spread all over the top half of the tomatoes we previously prepared.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 15
Step 16

Among the tomatoes, spread some green olives, preferably without pits.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 16
Step 17

Sprinkle with coarse salt over the whole surface.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 17
Step 18

And with dried oregano, it's a must.

Now allow the focaccia to rise in the pan for about 1 hour. Don't forget to prepare the oven before: turn on and preheat to 250 degrees C.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 18
Step 19

After 15-20 minutes since you made the first focaccia, start the second one as well.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 19
Step 20

After it has risen for 1 hour, bake in the preheated oven at 250 degrees C for 15-20 minutes, or until evenly browned.

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 20
Step 21

After baking, remove from the pan and let cool on a wire rack or kitchen towel. If you leave it in the pan, it will get steamy and the delicious and crunchy crust will soften.

It's great, both hot and cold. We love it.

Enjoy!

Foccacia Barese Recipe - Step 21
Quantity: 2 pcs (2 focaccia 30cm)
Prep time:
30 min
Difficulty: intermediate
Ready in: 90 min