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    Home > Recipes > Breads

    June 28, 2022

    Super Easy No-Knead Focaccia

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    No-knead focaccia is a super-easy snack idea made with zero effort and no technique (not even kneading). With the softest crumbs, fantastic texture, and delicious flavor, it’s the easy focaccia recipe you didn’t know you were looking for.

    This homemade focaccia gives that visceral satisfaction you can get only from freshly baked bread! Barely out of the oven, and I know it’s the best focaccia bread I’ve made, and that’s saying something because I’ve baked by the dozen.

    The warm crust is fragrant with rosemary, and when you bite in, it crunches marvelously, and then you get the kick from the sea salt. The crumbs are soft but still chewy and with that little tang from the long fermentation that makes you have one more slice.

    Super Easy No-Knead Focaccia | Homemade Focaccia Bread

    Jump to:

    Why should you make this recipe

    How no-knead method works?

    No-knead focaccia recipe

    Homemade focaccia bread tips

    Focaccia variations 

    Why do you need to try this recipe for homemade focaccia?

    It requires no kneading. The fridge and oven do most of the work.

    It takes zilch effort — only 15 minutes over 2 days!

    It uses no special equipment or technique. Just a pan, a whisk, a spatula, and some folding over.

    Never baked bread at home? This is the safest, easiest, and tastiest recipe to begin with!

    Super Easy No-Knead Focaccia | Homemade Focaccia Bread

    What is the no-knead method?

    I love the no-knead method of making bread. Like everyone on this earth, I was introduced to the concept by Jim Lahey long, long ago. My copy of his book became a bible of sorts and Jim, my guru.

    Since then, I’ve baked plenty of no-knead breads, but this homemade focaccia (adapted from Alexandra’s Kitchen with a few Tasha twists thrown in) was the simplest. By far.

    Why? Because (a) the dough was the most comfortable to work with, (b) it gave excellent results, and (c) it’s fantastic for beginners.

    So, what is the super easy no-knead method?

    It’s exactly what it says. You mix all the ingredients (flour, salt, sugar, and yeast) in a bowl and let it sit and proof. You don’t knead.

    How does it work?

    In bread, there are 2 ways to form a gluten network (the internal structure that makes freshly baked bread so amazing).

    The first is kneading. 

    As you work the dough with your hands, the normally knotted up proteins in the flour untangle, and join together, developing the network of gluten.

    The other is by letting the dough rest.

    When you give the dough a lot of time to proof, the proteins break down into teeny, tiny (and manageable) strands. At the same time, thanks to the yeast consuming sugar, air bubbles (CO2) start to bubble up in the dough.

    These bubbles push and nudge the protein strands into alignment. And once they are lined up like good little soldiers, they start to cross-link, creating the network of gluten. Without you having to knead the dough till your forearms hurt.

    So much science!!

    How to make no knead focaccia?

    The key here is time.

    Because there is no kneading involved, it needs a long rise. The longer you let the dough rest, the more depth of flavor and airy crumbs you get.

    Yes, this means you need to plan ahead, but who's complaining when you literally don’t have to do anything else for this recipe!

    Steps for making Super Easy No-Knead Focaccia | Homemade Focaccia Bread

    On day 1 do 5 mins of prep on no-knead focaccia

    Step 1: Combine the ingredients for focaccia bread (flour, salt, and yeast). Whisk in a teaspoon of sugar.

    Step 2: Add water and with a spatula mix until everything is blended, and you have a well-hydrated dough. It’ll be sticky and shaggy.

    Step 3: Paint the dough surface with olive oil so that the top layer doesn’t become dry and crusty during the first rise.

    Step 4: Cover the bowl with cling wrap or a kitchen towel. For those using a towel, I recommend securing it with a rubber band to keep it draft-free.

    Step 5: Slide the bowl into the fridge and let it do its magic for 18 to 24 hours.

    Proofed focaccia dough ready for the second rise

    On day 2 bake the no-knead focaccia bread

    Step 6: By the next day, the dough would have risen well. You’re now going to deflate it gently. First, oil your hands and then scrape the dough away from the edges.

    Step 7: Next, turn the dough over in 4 parts. Hold a portion of dough and fold it towards the center. Rotate the bowl a quarter turn and then fold over the dough again. Rotate the bowl and fold the dough 2 more times (watch the video). This completes 1 cycle.

    Step 8: Do the fold and rotate process one more time to form a rough ball.

    Step 9: Now, prep your pan by greasing it well with olive oil. This particular pan of mine tends to be sticky, so I also lined it with parchment paper. After that, I poured some more oil smack-dab in the middle.

    Step 10: Lift the dough off the bowl and plonk it over the olive oil in your baking dish.

    Step 11: Let the focaccia dough proof a second time. Since it’s warm here, my rise took about an hour and a half.

    After the second proof

    Now, let’s bake the best focaccia bread

    Step 12: Homemade focaccia bread needs a hot, hot, hot oven. So, preheat it to 220 °C or 425 °F.

    Step 13: While the oven preheats, get to the fun part. Scatter rosemary on the soft dough.

    Step 14: Spread more olive oil on top, and then make dimples by shaping your fingers into claws and pressing them into the pillowy dough. The feeling is utterly satisfying, like sinking your hands in cotton.

    Step 15: Sprinkle with sea salt immediately and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the crust is golden brown.

    Final step: Let the no-knead focaccia cool a bit and serve.

    Put olive oil, rosemary, and sea salt on the dough before baking

    My tips for homemade focaccia bread

    • Make sure your dough is not too wet or too hard. The best way to achieve the right consistency is to measure your ingredients.
    • I am a big fan of cup measurements as they’re very convenient, but this recipe for homemade focaccia needs accuracy. And, frankly speaking, cups are not precise. So, invest in a kitchen scale. Even a small battery-operated one will make all the difference.
    • Use a 9 by 13" or 10 by 12" baking dish. If you don’t have either, opt for a 10" round pan. Or you can split the dough into two 9-inch pans.
    • Always add all your focaccia toppings before the olive oil. The slick coating keeps them from getting burnt during baking.
    • The only thing I’d do differently the next time I bake no-knead focaccia is to use more rosemary. At least half the amount more, if not double.
    Baked focaccia

    How do you know the dough is ready after the 2nd proof?

    It’ll spread out to fill the pan and will be dotted with beautiful bubbles.

    Why do you need to add olive oil to the baking dish?

    Greasing the baking dish is the best way to ensure the cake, the bread, the brownie, or whatever else you’re baking doesn’t stick to it. With no-knead focaccia, we go a step further.

    We’re not just coating the pan but also pouring the olive oil right in the center. It’s a hefty amount that allows the bottom of the bread to bake gorgeously, lending it that crunchy, chewy texture and complex flavor. 

    Super Easy No-Knead Focaccia | Homemade Focaccia Bread

    Focaccia variations you can try

    Herbs: Rosemary is the classic choice for focaccia, but don’t let that stop you from experimenting. Any herb you prefer will be fantastic. Thyme, for example.

    You can even mix it in the dough, as I did with my herb and garlic focaccia. Incidentally, if you’re looking for quicker homemade focaccia bread, that’s the recipe you should try.

    Toppings: From olives to cherry tomatoes, from sliced onions to figs, you can bake endless focaccia versions. Or go to town with toppings and create an entire Instagrammable gardenscape.

    Serving the no-knead focaccia

    Serve it warm, and the tender interior and crisp crust simply beg for a nibble.

    Let it cool and serve it in slices as an easy snack or even an appetizer. And if there’s any leftover, although I hardly think so, use it for sandwiches.

    Super Easy No-Knead Focaccia | Homemade Focaccia Bread

    Super Easy No-Knead Focaccia | Homemade Focaccia Bread
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Super Easy No-Knead Focaccia

    No-knead focaccia is a super-easy snack idea made with zero effort and no technique (not even kneading). With the softest crumbs, fantastic texture, and delicious flavor, it’s the easy focaccia recipe you didn’t know you were looking for.
    Prep Time1 d 15 mins
    Course: Side Dish, Snack
    Keyword: Easy focaccia bread, Homemade focaccia, No-Knead Focaccia
    Servings: 10 servings1
    Calories:
    Author: Natasha Minocha

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups ( 512 gms) All-purpose flour
    • 2 tsp Yeast
    • 1 tsp Salt
    • 2 tsp Sugar
    • 2 cups ( 455 gms) Lukewarm water
    • 4 tbsp Olive oil
    • Sea salt and Rosemary for sprinkling on top

    Instructions

    • Combine the flour, yeast, salt, and sugar in a large bowl.
    • Pour over the lukewarm water. Mix well with a spatula until a sticky dough is formed.
    • Pour a teaspoon or two of olive oil on the surface of the dough and rub it all over.
    • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 18-24 hours. I kept it for 24 hours.
    • When you're ready to bake, grease a 9" x 13" or 10" x 12" pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper. You may not need to do that if your pan is non-stick.
      I used a 10" x12" pan and lined it too.
    • Take out the refrigerated dough. Oil your hands and gently bring the proofed dough in from the sides of the bowl.
    • Fold the dough over itself. Turn the bowl a quarter of the way and fold the dough over itself again. Do 3 more quarter turns of the bowl with folding over the dough each time.
      Repeat this step once more.
    • Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the center of the prepared pan.
    • Gently place the deflated dough on the olive oil. Roll it a couple of times to coat it well with oil.
    • Cover this with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and keep in a draft-free place for 2-4 hours or until the dough doubles and covers the pan.
      Mine doubled in 1.5 hours.
    • Preheat the oven to 220 C.
    • Sprinkle rosemary ( if using ) all over the surface of the dough.
    • Pour over the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil on the dough and spread it all over. Dimple the dough using your fingers. Sprinkle the sea salt.
    • Bake the bread at 220 C for 25-30 minutes, until the top is golden brown. The bottom of the bread should be crispy.
    • Let the bread rest in the pan for 5 minutes before turning it out on a cooling rack. Slice warm or let it cool completely. Enjoy!
    Super Easy No-Knead Focaccia | Homemade Focaccia Bread PIN
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. EASYFOODSMITH says

      July 04, 2022 at 4:37 pm

      5 stars
      My daughter loves all kinds of breads and I am sure she will enjoy this one too. Got to make this for her sometime soon. Thanks for sharing 🙂

      Reply
      • Natasha Minocha says

        July 20, 2022 at 4:05 pm

        I have big bread lovers in my family too. This one is a boon as its so easy and effortless to make! I hope she enjoys it as much as mine does 🙂

        Reply
    2. Cara says

      August 07, 2022 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      This was so easy to make, thanks for the recipe ❤️

      Reply
      • Natasha Minocha says

        August 09, 2022 at 10:44 am

        Thank you so much, Cara! xx

        Reply
    3. Pratibha says

      October 07, 2022 at 6:07 am

      Your recipes are really amazing. Have been trying them since lockdown days and every one I tried turned out perfect ! And even when I am not able try them , I love to read the mouthwatering write ups ! Kudos

      Reply
      • Natasha Minocha says

        October 08, 2022 at 1:12 pm

        I am so so happy to read your beautiful comment, Pratibha. Its really very lovely of you to take the time out and write a note here. I appreciate you and am so thankful for your love and support. Have a wonderful day! xoxo

        Reply
    4. Janet says

      December 27, 2022 at 9:34 pm

      I am going to try make this bread. Thank you sharing this recipe.

      Reply
      • Natasha Minocha says

        December 30, 2022 at 2:05 pm

        Thank you so much! Hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Happy baking! xx

        Reply
    5. Colleen says

      January 19, 2023 at 3:01 am

      Hi Natasha, will give your focaccia a try, it looks yummy 🙂 Can you please let me know what type of yeast you used in this recipe (ie instant, quick rise or ?) Thanks!

      Reply
      • Natasha Minocha says

        January 23, 2023 at 5:49 pm

        Hello Colleen, I used instant dry yeast in this recipe. I have made it with active dry yeast too and got good results. Thank you for following along and happy baking! xx

        Reply
    6. Lynette Edwards says

      January 19, 2023 at 5:51 am

      What kind of yeast do you use?

      Reply
      • Natasha Minocha says

        January 23, 2023 at 5:48 pm

        Hi, I use active dry yeast or sometimes instant dry yeast too.

        Reply

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