Crispy And Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Focaccia Bread Youll Love is more than just a dish; it’s an irresistible invitation to a world of aromatic delights and satisfying textures. Imagine pulling apart a warm slice, the golden crust crackling ever so gently, revealing a wonderfully airy interior studded with savory garlic, rich Parmesan, and a hint of fresh herbs. Originating from the Liguria region of Italy, focaccia has a rich history dating back to ancient times, initially baked in hearths and evolving into the beloved flatbread we cherish today. It was traditionally a simple bread, often drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt, enjoyed as a breakfast treat or an accompaniment to meals. Today, its versatility knows no bounds, making it a perfect appetizer, a delightful side dish, or even the base for a gourmet sandwich.
People absolutely adore this dish because of its incredible interplay of textures and flavors. The initial crispness gives way to a soft, chewy crumb, while the pungent garlic perfectly balances the salty, umami notes of the Parmesan cheese. Each bite offers a burst of savory goodness that is truly addictive. I’m so excited to guide you through creating this culinary masterpiece in your own kitchen. I promise you, mastering this Crispy And Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Focaccia Bread Youll Love will become one of your proudest kitchen achievements, bringing joy and deliciousness to your table with every golden, fragrant loaf.
Ingredients:
For the Focaccia Dough:
- 500g (about 4 cups) Strong Bread Flour or All-Purpose Flour: While all-purpose flour works, I find that bread flour, with its higher protein content, really gives you that beautiful, chewy interior and helps achieve an incredible crust, which is essential for our Crispy And Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Focaccia Bread.
- 10g (about 1 tablespoon) Fine Sea Salt: This isn’t just for flavor; it also helps to strengthen the gluten structure, contributing to the focaccia’s texture.
- 7g (about 2 ¼ teaspoons) Instant Yeast: Make sure your yeast is fresh! This is what will make our focaccia light and airy.
- 400ml (about 1 ¾ cups) Warm Water (around 105-115°F / 40-46°C): The warmth helps to activate the yeast, but be careful not to make it too hot, as that can kill it.
- 30ml (about 2 tablespoons) Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus more for the bowl and pan: Good quality olive oil is key here. It adds richness to the dough and contributes to that signature focaccia flavor and texture.
For the Garlic Parmesan Topping:
- 60ml (about ¼ cup) Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Again, choose a good quality one. This will be infused with garlic for our topping.
- 4-6 Cloves Garlic, minced: Freshly minced garlic is non-negotiable for that vibrant garlic flavor we’re aiming for in this Crispy And Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Focaccia Bread.
- ½ teaspoon Dried Oregano (or 1 ½ teaspoons fresh, chopped): Oregano provides a lovely herbaceous note that complements the garlic and cheese beautifully.
- ¼ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional, for a hint of heat): I love adding a little kick, but feel free to omit if you prefer.
- 100g (about 1 cup) Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese: Skip the pre-grated stuff! Freshly grated Parmesan melts better and has a far superior flavor. This is a crucial element for the “cheesy” part of our focaccia.
- Flaky Sea Salt, for finishing: This adds a wonderful textural contrast and bursts of salty flavor.
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste: A little bit of pepper elevates all the other flavors.
Equipment You’ll Need:
- Large Mixing Bowl: Essential for combining and rising the dough.
- Kitchen Scale: For precise ingredient measurement, especially flour, which can vary greatly by volume.
- 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) Baking Pan or a Half Sheet Pan: A light-colored metal pan is ideal for even baking and a golden bottom crust.
- Plastic Wrap or a Damp Kitchen Towel: For covering the dough during its rises.
- Small Saucepan or Microwave-Safe Bowl: For gently warming the olive oil for the topping.
- Pastry Brush: To evenly distribute the garlic oil.
Preparing the Dough – The Foundation of Your Crispy And Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Focaccia Bread:
- Activate the Yeast: In your large mixing bowl, combine the warm water and instant yeast. Give it a gentle stir and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes. You should see a foamy layer developing on the surface; this tells you your yeast is alive and ready to work its magic. If you don’t see any foam, your water might have been too hot or too cold, or your yeast may be old. In that case, it’s best to start again with fresh yeast and properly tempered water. We want a lively start for our incredibly Crispy And Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Focaccia Bread.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: While the yeast is activating, in a separate, smaller bowl, whisk together your bread flour and fine sea salt. This ensures the salt is evenly distributed throughout the flour, preventing concentrated salty spots in your finished focaccia.
- Mix the Dough: Once your yeast is foamy, pour the flour and salt mixture into the wet ingredients in the large mixing bowl. Add the 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Using a sturdy wooden spoon or your hands, mix everything together until a shaggy dough forms and all the flour is hydrated. It’s okay if it looks a bit messy and sticky at this stage; we’re just looking for everything to come together.
- Knead for Gluten Development: Now comes the fun part! This dough is quite wet, so traditional kneading on a floured surface might be challenging. I prefer the “stretch and fold” method directly in the bowl, or using a stand mixer with a dough hook if you have one.
Cheesy Garlic Sourdough Focaccia
The BEST cheesy garlic bread turned into focaccia. This sourdough focaccia is loaded with cheese, garlic flavor and herbs that make this bread really stand out. You'll love serving it to family, company or just as delicious side dish with dinner.Equipment
- 12-inch round metal or cast iron pan or 9 by 13-inch pan
- Mixing bowl
- kitchen scale
- dough whisk
Ingredients
- 5 grams sourdough starte ripe, bubbly and active, about 1 teaspoon
- 55 grams flour, all-purpose or bread flour, scant 1/2 cup
- 55 grams water, about 1/4 cup
Sourdough Focaccia Dough
- 100 grams levain, ripe, bubbly, active, scant 1/2 cup
- 425 grams water, about 1 3/4 cups
- 13 grams salt, about 2 teaspoons
- 500 grams bread flour, about 3.5 cups
Cheese Mixture
- 150 grams mozzarella cheese, shredded, about 1 1/2 cups
- 70 grams parmesan cheese, shredded, about 1/2 cup
- 100 grams sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, about 1 cup
- 100 grams monterey jack cheese, shredded, about 1 cup
- 4 grams dried oregano, about 1 Tablespoon
- 4 grams dried basil, about 1 Tablespoon
Garlic Herb Oil
- 55 grams olive oil, about 1/4 cup
- 35 grams unsalted butter, melted, about 2.5 Tablespoons
- 3 grams garlic powder, about 1 teaspoon
- 2 grams salt, about 1/4 teaspoon
- 1 gram dried oregano, about 1 teaspoon
- 1 gram dried basil, about 1 teaspoon
Topping
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
Levain: 1:10:10, about 10-12 hours at 78ºF
- Mix together 5 grams ripe sourdough starter with 55 grams water and 55 grams flour. Cover and let sit overnight at 78ºF until doubled in size, bubbly and active. You can also substitute 100 grams of bubbly sourdough starter if you prefer.
Cheesy Garlic Sourdough Focaccia
- Mix: Mix together ripe, bubbly, active levain with water, salt and bread flour. Mix together with a dough whisk or spoon until a sticky dough forms. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
- Coil Fold # 1: Take the cover off the dough and perform 4-6 coil folds. The dough will be very sticky for this first set of coil folds but will strengthen over time. Wet your hands with water. Place your hands under the middle of the dough and pull up. The dough will stretch up (but should not tear) and release from the bottom of the bowl. Once the dough releases, let the dough fall back under itself. Repeat the process for both sides of dough. Then turn the container and repeat the coil fold. Watch a video of the coil fold process here. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
- Prepare the cheese mixture: Shred cheeses and add to a bowl. Toss with dried herbs until evenly dispersed. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
- Coil Fold #2: Wet your hands. You will notice the dough is stronger than your first set of folds. Add half of the cheese mixture on top of the dough. Cover the remaining cheese and refrigerate. Repeat the coil folds, incorporating the cheese as you go. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
- Coil Fold #3: Wet your hands. Perform 3-4 coil folds, mixing the inclusions into the dough. Don't worry if they aren't all completely incorporated yet. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
- Coil Fold #4: Repeat the last set of coil folds. Cover and rest the dough at 78ºF for 1.5-2 hours until the dough has risen, is starting to dome and has a few scattered bubbles around the edges. Note, the dough will not double in size at this point, but it will rise 30-40%.
- Prepare the Garlic Herb Oil: Mix together olive oil, melted butter, garlic powder, salt and dried herbs.
- Prepare the Pan: After the long bulk rest, prepare a 9 by 13 metal baking pan or a 12 inch skillet (or metal pan) with half of the garlic herb oil. Tip the pan around to coat the entire bottom of the pan. If your pan has issues with dough sticking put some parchment paper down before the butter/oil.
- Stretch the Dough: Turn the dough out into the pan and stretch slowly to fill the edges of the pan. Pull up gently on the underside of the dough to stretch it into place. If it doesn't want to stretch, let the dough rest for a minute and then try again. Pour the rest of the garlic herb oil on top of the dough and cover with plastic wrap to proof. At this point you can cover the dough and refrigerate it for up to 48 hours before proceeding with a second proof and baking.
- Proof the Dough: Let the dough sit in a warm 78-80ºF place for 3-5 hours until doubled in size, puffed up and very airy. If the dough doesn't look like this, warm it up a little more and let it rise longer.
- Dimple the Dough: After the dough is puffed up, jiggly and aerated with air bubbles, pre-heat the oven to 425ºF. Sprinkle 2 cloves of minced garlic over the top of the dough. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese mixture on top of the dough, spreading it evenly over the focaccia. Take your fingers and gently dimple the dough. Start at the top and work your way down the dough until the entire focaccia is dimpled and bubbly.
- Bake Focaccia: Once the oven is pre-heated to 425ºF, bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly, crispy and light golden brown on top and the baked focaccia registers 200ºF. Let cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Enjoy!
Notes
Sourdough Starter: I make a levain for all of my sourdough recipes because it gives more consistent results. If you don’t want to use that method, you can substitute ripe, bubbly, active sourdough starter for the same amount of levain.Bread Flour: This is a high hydration recipe. If you choose to use a flour with a lower protein content than bread flour (lower than 12.5%), you will want to decrease the water in the recipe.Olive Oil: Choose an olive oil that you like the flavor of. It will transfer over to the flavor of the baked dough. I prefer a light tasting olive oil.