Ingredients
Method
Making the Dough
- In a large bowl, whisk together the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
- Add the flour, salt, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
- Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, making sure to coat the bottom and sides well.
Shaping and Second Rise
- Transfer the risen dough to the prepared baking dish. Using your fingertips, gently stretch and dimple the dough to fit the pan. Don't worry if it doesn't reach all the corners at first.
- Cover with a damp towel and let rise for another 2 hours. The dough should be puffy and fill most of the pan.
- About 30 minutes before baking, preheat your oven to 425°F.
Adding Toppings and Baking
- Drizzle the 3 tablespoons of olive oil evenly over the surface of the dough.
- Using your fingertips, make deep dimples all over the surface, pressing almost to the bottom of the pan. The oil will pool in these dimples.
- Scatter the sliced garlic, rosemary, and thyme evenly over the surface, pressing them gently into the dough.
- Sprinkle with the coarse sea salt.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes, until golden brown on top and the edges are crispy.
- Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.
Notes
The dough will be quite sticky, which is normal. Resist the urge to add more flour. For best results, use a kitchen scale to measure the flour (360g). Store leftover focaccia covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. You can substitute the herbs with whatever you have on hand, basil and oregano work well too.
