An Italian bread - Focaccia is flavoured with the choicest of olive oil, fresh herbs and sea salt and baked to perfection. Perfect Appetiser or Brunch Option for a lovely romantic meal or get-togethers (Eggless) (Vegetarian) (Whole Wheat)
Whole Wheat Focaccia with Peppers, Tomatoes, Olives and Fresh Rosemary
Hope all of you had great holi celebrations at home. I don’t play Holi, gave up long time ago, not that I was a big fan earlier but atleast, I used to attempt going out a little. I somehow, don’t like the idea of too many colours on the face and water wastage so I refrain but I love the music, fun and food that comes along with the festival.
This Holi I baked for a change, not that I need a reason to do that but I loved spending / sweating (yes the terrible heat) time in the kitchen with my pretty bread loaves / dough. As soon as I finished baking the sandwich loaf for the weekend breakfast, my husband reminded me that I had not baked a Focaccia since long. That doesn’t include baking for friends. Had baked couple of breads in the last few months as gifts to friends as I am normally expected to get a food item with me when I meet them. I certainly do that with a lot of joy and love. It enables me practice and keep in touch with baking.
Thankfully my trip to Natures Basket earlier that week led to me buying some fresh rosemary that I wanted to actually make a herb oil from but eventually thought that it would be a wonderful idea to add it to the whole wheat focaccia instead.
Anyone who loves this Italian bread knows that a good focaccia needs a good dose of rosemary, amongst other things. The flavor it imparts while baking in the oven is just beyond great! I love rosemary and baked potatoes too and while I am writing this, reminds me that I haven’t made that either in the longest time. I have a focaccia bread recipe on the blog that uses APF / Maida and mixed peppers with olives. This time I wanted to do a healthier version so tried the whole wheat focaccia instead. Since I don’t play Holi, doesn’t mean I cannot turn my food into looking like a celebratory piece. I used bright red peppers for the spiciness. My husband doesn’t like Jalapenos so avoided that and added loads of his favourite tomatoes and olives along with some green capsicum too. Colours on a plate!
The whole wheat focaccia was just in time for our evening tea and my husband by now knows that since I blog, the dish has to be first photographed, he happily volunteered to pose for the pic (the hand model in most of my pics) and then happily gobbled up the piece he held.
There is nothing in the world that I wouldn’t do for that man! He has the most simple requirements in life and expects nothing – Good Food being one of the most important one. Here’s to the man who has brought all the joyous colours to my life ever since I married him!
Do check out my other Bread Stories / Recipes on the blog, links given below –
- Whole Wheat Pull Apart Breads with Indian style Pesto
- Pull apart breads with Pizza stuffing
- Focaccia with Mixed Peppers and olives
Recipe for Whole Wheat Focaccia with Peppers, Tomatoes, Olives and Fresh Rosemary
Ingredients for the Bread
- Whole Wheat Flour – 1 cup
- ½ tsp instant dry yeast
- ½ tsp sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tblsp Milk
- Softened Butter – 1 tblsp & ¼ tsp for greasing the baking tin & ¼ tsp for brushing / glaze post baking
- Lukewarm water – ½ cup
Toppings (No specific quantity but I love a stuffed and loaded focaccia)
- Sliced Red Peppers, Olives, Green Capsicum, Tomatoes and Fresh Rosemary along with sea salt, oregano and red chilli flakes
Note – If you don’t have access to fresh rosemary, the dry herb will do perfectly fine.
- Olive Oil – 2 tblsp
Method
- Step 1– In case you don’t have instant yeast, take active dry yeast of the same qty and proof it. Once yeast blooms, add the mixture to the flour. PS – I prefer using instant yeast in all my bakes.
- Step 2– Grease a big bowl enough to hold a risen dough with few drops of oil.
- In a separate bowl, add the flour, add salt, yeast (incase instant yeast), milk, sugar and knead the dough using lukewarm water. Add the water slowly and ensure the dough doesn’t get too sticky. Do not add the entire quantity of water while kneading, sometimes you won’t even need the mentioned quantity of water. Always feel the dough while kneading, your hands and eyes are the best judge.
- Now place the dough on the kitchen platform or a board and put 1 tblsp of butter and knead the dough for roughly 7-10 mins.
- During the 10 mins of kneading, keep incorporating butter slowly. The dough should be very soft to touch after kneading.
- Now carefully place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl / container for proofing (Step 2) in a warm place. Ensure you cover the dough either with a damp cloth (not wet) or keep the dough in a container with lid. I prefer the latter.
- The proofing takes about 1 hour to 1.5 hours depending on weather conditions. The dough should be double in size.
- Once the dough is proved, knock off the air by punching the dough few times. Now sprinkle some flour on the board / platform, knead the dough lightly for 5 mins and lift to place the dough in the greased tin. Now spread the dough gently into the corners evenly.
- Using your finger tips, make dimples in the bread dough, sprinkle the herbs and drizzle some olive oil and sea salt. (check herb ingredients for toppings above). Place the vegetables / toppings and slightly press it to the dough so that they don’t fall off while slicing / baking.
- Now place this greased tin for further proving in a warm place preferably for 20-30 mins.
- Preheat the oven before baking for atleast 10 mins (hot oven) at 200 degrees.
- Bake this beauty at 200 degrees for 20 – 30 mins or until golden brown.
- Once baked, brush a bit of butter on top or drizzle some extra virgin olive oil sprinkle some red chilli flakes (optional). Serve warm or cool.
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Vidya Narayan
Lovely, am going to try this soon. Thanks for sharing ?
Thanks, do try and share your feedback, if possible.
Sure, will do !!
Wow. It looks so amazing Vidya. You captured so well. I loved your description, as always you nailed it. I like the idea sharing the food with loved ones. Keep posting 🙂
Thank you my dear for all the lovely words. Big hug!
There is website called FoodYub. http://foodyub.com/. Check it out dear. You just need to submit the image and link of your recipe. They will check the image quality and accept your link. They have good amount of audience.
Thanks a ton my dear for this. Shall definitely check out and submit images if I can.
Great recipe ! Beautiful focaccia bread !!
Thank you so much dear
One of my fav bread? love to eat this anytime ?
Mine too dear. Its light and flavourful. Thank you so much.
Attractive dish.. ??
Thank you!
It’s is great ??
Thank you!
looks super delicious Vidya, you have all my favorite toppings on it 🙂 I think its a must try .By the way did you knead it with hand or dough maker?
Thank you so much dear. Glad you liked it. If you go through the previous links (provided in this post itself) you will see the complete step by step pics too. Since I have covered that in all my posts, didn't do it for this again. You can notice the consistency of the dough etc at each stage. Best wishes.
I will definitely check the links with the detailed pictures and bookmarking this .
thanks so much dear.
Ah! I re-read I guess you didn't use the dough maker , will definitely try!Thanks for sharing!
I don't use Kitchen Aid neither a dough maker for my breads. Every bread is kneaded by hand, shaped etc by hand too. There is a joy in that process which the machines won't provide.
Great tip Vidya! I will try it out.Thank you 🙂
My pleasure dear
This is one heavenly combo on the focaccia. Loved this bread 🙂
Thanks so much
it's tempting 😛
thanks dear
Gorgeous!!! Love bread any time and with all these goodies pile up, cannot resist this focaccia 🙂
Agree right? Thanks so much.
This Focaccia rocks and with all those toppings am sure one can have this focaccia without any fuss. Awesome focaccia there Vidya, i dont mind having few slices without any guilt. Beautifully baked.
thank you tons my dear for all the kind words and I so wish I could share some with you.
The Focaccia looks so colourful and is bursting with flavours!
thanks dear.
Love this colourful foccacia bread, thanks for sharing this beautiful recipe !!
Thank you and my pleasure dear.
I love focaccia and this toppings looks absolutely sinful and super yummy..
Thanks dear.
Wah! Tarrif karu kya uski jisne ye facaccia banaya 🙂 You have put all of my favourite ingredients in one dish, perfectly baked and it is so tempting!
ha ha .. Tareef karo ya nahi I know you love me 🙂 Thank you so much dear, glad to know our tastes match a lot .. I love loaded focaccia.
Wow, that is such a colorful and delicious looking focaccia. LOVE all those pretty veggies on top -- this must have tasted absolutely amazing.
It did taste great Pavani. Thanks a ton dear!
What a beautiful focaccia and yeah, healthy too. I agree with you Vidya, even I love the joy of kneading the dough by hand.
Thank you dear, glad we share the same thoughts on kneading.
I remember the Focaccia u made for us dear!Salivating at the pic!Too good to resist!
Thank you dear, glad I could do that and meet you guys!
Awesome Vidya, It looks so tempting .. And you explained it so nicely ...
Thanks so much, glad to hear that.
lovely
Thanks!
First of all Kudos to you for the gorgeous capture Vidya....Focaccia looks so inviting...Want to grab a slice from the screen....Awesome share!!
Thank you so much dear for all the kind words.
Just saw your reply to the comment above regarding KA. I will love to have KA but then I love to feel the dough under my hands, love to knead it bang it. Bash the boss or who so ever is getting under my skin in the form of the dough. Then love to watch it bloom into a delicious bread. Not tried baking bread in ages. Bookmarking this delicious focaccia.
Haha.. I so get you. The best way to beat stress is to bake breads and I agree to that personally. Do try this recipe, I am sure your bake will rock!
Looks amazing dear Vidya.. beautiful focaccia bread. Superb share
Thank you my dear.
Love this whole wheat focaccia Vidya. Such a healthy share with loads of toppings 🙂
Loaded ones are the best. Thanks dear.
All my favorite ingredients. Rosemary gives the best flavor in the bread. I am a big fan of focaccia, which is also vegan version 😉
Thank you dear.
Focaccia is one of my favorited savory bread and yours focaccia with peppers, tomatoes, and olives with a dash of rosemary is looking IRRESISTIBLE.
Thanks so much dear
Oh Vidhya, Change your name to temptress, please. I so badly want to have a bite of this... I may start gnawing the laptop...
Lolzz.. Having a hearty laugh here reading your comment. Wish I could bake and share with you. Thanks so much dear.
What an lovely share.. you shared an lovely recipe with different combination of spices.. Pictures are perfect and looks very delis..
Thank you so much my dear Suji!
Lovely post, you are making me hungry now Vidya. I do need to make this.
Aww... Wish I could bake and get these for you. Thanks so much
That is one of my favourite breads, so full of flavour. Your post reminds me that I haven't baked one in a long time. I don't know why but during summer months I just do not feel like spending too much time in the kitchen. Maybe its time to change.
Its the same case for me during summers but I guess baking breads is an exception. Thank you and glad you liked the post.
I too have never been a great fan of Holi! And the only reason I never switch on the oven these days is the heat!! But I would give anything for this beautiful bread!! The first pic looks so delicious Vidhya!
Thanks so much dear, I agree during summers its terrible to bake.
Wow, this one is fully loaded ? Love the fact that its whole wheat version. Even I don't play holi that much and this one seems to be a celebration of colors?
Thank you so much dear.
Your bakes are always tempting Vidya. I am not a baker and I wish I could be your neighbour. 🙂 🙂 As usual another lovely baked goodie form you.
I wish that too my dear. thank for you for all the encouragement.
Wow, simply wow...This is looking absolutely amazing..Loved the recipe..Bookmarked it..will definitely gonna make this !!
Thank you so much Anshu. Hope you love the bread, do share the feedback, if you bake it!
Ya sure Vidya, will definitely share the feedback !!
It is loaded with my favorite flavor..Im trying to visualize how you would have felt when having this... deliciousness is one word
haha.. Trust me, there wasnt much time to think .. it was being gobbled up pretty quick. Thanks so much dear.
You are a pro baker Vidya. This Focaccia is absolutely stunning and tempting.Lovely clicks too.Keep sharing your wonderful recipes dear.
Thank you for all the kind words my dear. Getting better with each attempt is all I can say!
I baked this focaccia yesterday and it came out amazing. It was polished off in minutes. Thanks Vidya for a wonderful recipe.
thank you so much for your feedback Shipra and glad the family enjoyed it.
Hey. Looks lovely! I tried it too..but my dough doesn't seem to rise..how much time does it take?
Hello Sakshhi,
Firstly, thank you for stopping by. To answer your question - Dough not rising has two reasons. First and most important is the freshness of yeast. Secondly, the water temperature used for kneading or proofing the yeast. If the water is too hot, chances are your yeast is dead which means the dough will not rise. It takes anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour for the first proofing to happen (with suitable weather conditions). I am sure with these tips, you will nail the next attempt. Cheers.
what size tin should be used for this recipe
I have used a 7 inch square tin with 2 inches height.