Focaccia Sandwich Bread

Ingredients

• 1 Focaccia dough (One batch of same-day, overnight, or sourdough focaccia dough (approx. 800-900g))
• 4 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil (Divided; for greasing the tin, the work surface, and drizzling over the dough)
• Butter (Optional; for greasing the tin if prone to sticking)
• Fresh rosemary (Sprinkled on top; optional)
• Flaky sea salt (For sprinkling on top)

Steps

1. 1

   Prepare a 2lb (9x5 inch) nonstick loaf tin by greasing it generously with extra virgin olive oil. If your tin is prone to sticking, use a combination of butter and olive oil or line it with parchment paper before drizzling in the oil.

2. 2

   Once your focaccia dough has fully proofed in its bowl, tip it onto a lightly oiled work surface.

3. 3

   Fold the dough up to create tension as shown in the video; this step is crucial for helping the bread rise tall in the tin.

4. 4

   Transfer the folded dough into the prepared loaf tin, ensuring the smooth side is facing up and the seams from the folds are at the bottom.

5. 5

   Cover the tin and let the dough proof until it has nearly risen to the top of the tin. This typically takes about 1.25 hours for same-day dough, or up to 2 hours for cold-fermented overnight or sourdough doughs.

6. 6

   Preheat your oven to 410°F (210°C) and place the oven rack in the lowest position.

7. 7

   Drizzle the top of the dough with more extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with fresh rosemary.

8. 8

   Dimple the dough thoroughly with your fingertips, pressing down into the thick dough. Sprinkle generously with flaky sea salt.

9. 9

   Place the loaf tin onto a baking tray (to catch any oil spills) and bake for 35-40 minutes until the top is a deep golden brown.

10. 10

    Remove from the oven and let the bread rest in the tin for 10 minutes.

11. 11

    Remove the loaf from the tin and transfer it to a wire rack to finish cooling completely before slicing.

Notes

For a plain sandwich loaf, you can skip the rosemary, sea salt, and dimpling steps and simply bake the dough as is. This bread is excellent for sandwiches, toast, or served alongside soup.

Nutrition per serving

• sandwich bread
• focaccia
• baking
• bread
• lunch
• vegetarian