Name: Parmesan Focaccia Bread
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 3 h 25 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 medium russet potato (peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks); 3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil; 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast (instant or rapid-rise); 1 1/4 teaspoons salt; 2/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan

Parmesan Focaccia Bread

Parmesan Focaccia Bread is light and super tender in the middle, but has a phenomenally crunchy outside, thanks to baking it in olive oil!

Prep35 min

Cook25 min

Total3 hr 25 min

Serves12

Published 17 Oct 2013

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Parmesan Focaccia Breadis a thin, cheesy bread recipe, made with a russet potato! If you’re a lover of Italian food, this bread would be the perfect side to your spaghetti or baked ziti!

slices of focaccia bread stacked on top of each other

There are few things in life as glorious as fresh, warm, tender bread.The simplicity and elegance of a few traditional ingredients combined with the smell and nostalgia makes me so happy and hungry!In my mind, focaccia really means “bread heaven”.This bread is light and super tender in the middle but has a phenomenally crunchy outside thanks to baking it in a heavy hand of olive oil.

Parmesan Focacciais a fantastic break from the traditional breads that you are serving with dinner and your family will go nuts over it. This focaccia bread calls for a russet potato. Sounds crazy but the addition of a potato makes the dough incredibly soft and tender. If you are making asoupthat is a regular in your meal rotation, try switching things up by serving this bread on the side. It’ll be like eating a whole new meal.

The recipe comes fromThe America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book, so you know it’s a good one. ATK doesn’t lead one astray.

close up of slices of focaccia bread stacked on each other

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Yummy Texture:Focaccia is known for it’s crispy outside and pillowy inside and chewy texture.
Homemade Bread:You get the deliciousness of homemade bread without all the time and fuss of waiting for a big loaf to rise and bake.
Perfect Side:You can serve it with soups, salads, pasta, and pretty much anything else you can think of.

Ingredients

Russet Potato
All-Purpose Flour
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Yeast:either instant or rapid-rise
Salt
Parmesan

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

How to Make Parmesan Focaccia Bread

Step #1.Boil the potato and reserve one cup of the cooking water. Set the potato and reserved water aside to cool. Once the potato is cool enough to touch, grate it with a box grater.

Step #3.Increase the speed to medium low and mix until the dough starts to pull away from the sides. (Add another tablespoon or two of flour is the dough remains sticky.) Knead by hand for 8 minutes, then place in an oiled bowl, cover, and set aside to rise until doubled.

Step #2.Add the grated potato, 3 1/2 cups of flour, olive oil, salt, and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer. Slowly add the cooled potato water to the mixer and mix until a dough starts to form.

Step #4.Spread the dough in an oiled sheet pan. Brush with more olive oil and let rise again until doubled. Remove the cover, and dimple the dough with wet finger tips all over. Drizzle with remaining oil and sprinkle with parmesan. Bake 20-25 minutes until crisp. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

Recipe FAQs

How is focaccia different from bread?

Focaccia is a lightweight, flat baked bread, comparable to pizza dough. It is traditionally used as a side dish or can be used to make sandwiches.

How long will focaccia stay fresh?

Focaccia bread is best served within 2-4 days of baking. Store the baked bread covered in plastic wrap at room temperature. Though I do think this bread is best eaten warm the day it’s made.

Why are dimples made in focaccia bread?

The dimples in focaccia bread aren’t just for looks. They actually prevent the dough from rising too quickly. I like to wet my fingertips and then dimple the entire top of the dough. Then I will finish it off by drizzling a tablespoon of oil over the top and sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese.

Expert Tips

Fresh herbs would be a great addition. Sprinkle them on when you sprinkle the parmesan over the dough.
Focaccia should sound hollow when it’s done. Give it a little tap when it’s nice and golden. If it doesn’t sound hollow yet, give it a couple more minutes.
Make sure you move the bread from the hot pan to the cooling rack when it’s done. Otherwise, it will get soggy on the bottom.
You can reheat it by wrapping it in foil and placing it in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.

slices of focaccia bread stacked on top of each other with the words "easy focaccia" written at the top

More Bread Recipes to Consider

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Parmesan Focaccia Bread

Parmesan Focaccia Bread is a thin, cheesy bread recipe, made with a russet potato! If you're a lover of Italian food, this bread would be the perfect side to your spaghetti or baked ziti!

Ingredients

1 medium russet potato (peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks)

3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 1/4 teaspoons yeast (instant or rapid-rise)

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

2/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan

Instructions

In a small saucepan add the cut up potato and 3 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for about ten minutes or until the potato can easily be poked with a fork. Using a slotted spoon transfer the cooked potato to a small bowl and then measure out one cup of the hot potato water and set both aside to cool.

Once the potato had cooled enough to touch grate it on the largest holes of your box graters and set aside (this should be about one cup of grated potato that is lightly packed).

Add the cooked potato, 3 1/2 cups of flour, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, yeast, and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the dough hook mix on low speed. Slowly add the reserved potato water (that has cooled to 110 degrees) and mix until it starts to form a dough, about 2 minutes.

Increase the speed to medium low and continue to mix until a smooth and elastic dough is formed. The dough should start to pull away from the edges of the mixer bowl but still stick to the bottom. If after 4 minutes the dough is too sticky add the remaining flour as needed just a tablespoon or two at a time until the dough leaves the edges of the bowl.

After 8 minutes knead the dough by hand on a clean surface to form a smooth round bowl. Put the dough in a big lightly oiled bowl and let it rise, covered with plastic wrap until doubled, about an hour to an hour and a half.

Coat the bottom of an 18 by 13 inch rimmed baking sheet with 1/4 cup olive oil. Using wet hands (so the dough doesn't stick to you) gently push the dough evenly across the bottom of the pan until the whole pan is evenly filled with dough. Brush the top with another 1 tablespoon of olive oil and then cover with plastic wrap and let it rise until doubled, 45 to 75 minutes.

At the end of the final rising time heat the oven to 425 degrees. Remove the plastic wrap and with wet fingertips dimple the entire top of the dough. Drizzle the last tablespoon of oil over the top and sprinkle evenly with the Parmesan cheese. Bake until the bread is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.

Once the bread has baked carefully transfer it to a wire rack to cool (don't keep it in the pan). Let it cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Use deliciously flavored olive oil for this recipe since it provides so much of the flavor. Kneading is what gives the bread structure and chewiness. Don't skimp on that part. Rising bread doesn't like drafts or cold air. Cover it and put it somewhere warm. Store the bread in an airtight container for up to two days.

Nutrition

Calories250

Carbohydrates31

Cholesterol4

Fat11

Fiber1

Protein6

Saturated fat2

Sodium333

Sugar0.3