Italian Focaccia Bread (50% Whole Wheat Flour, Vegan) – Perfect for Beginners

Name: Italian Focaccia Bread (50% Whole Wheat Flour, Vegan) – Perfect for Beginners
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Baking
Ingredients: 1 cup Whole Wheat Flour (Aata),; 1 cup All Purpose Flour (Maida),; 1/8 cup Sooji,; 1 tsp Salt,; 1 tsp Powdered Sugar,; 3 tsp Yeast,; 3/4 to 1 cup Lukewarm Water,; 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil, (plus extra to drizzle); A Few Onion Slices,; A Handful Bell Pepper Slices,; A Few Tomato Slices,; 3 to 4 Garlic Cloves, roughly cut; A Pinch of Black Pepper, freshly cracked; A Pinch of Dried Oregano & Basil, (or any other herb of choice - fresh or dried)

This Italian Focaccia bread is a show-stopper. It looks so gorgeous that it will make you drool and tempt you to take a bite. It is soft and fluffy from the inside but has a slightly crusty exterior. Focaccia Bread tastes so amazing that it should be the KING of all breads. Literally! Making it is so much fun and you can even involve your kids to decorate with different toppings.

This recipe is inspired by the Focaccia bread made by the legendary Gordon Ramsay. His bread is pretty simple and once I mastered that, I decided to make it with whole wheat flour. After trying a couple of times, I finally have the recipe for Focaccia bread which is very easy to make and contains 50% less refined flour 🙂 The best thing is that you do not need any stand mixer or any machine to make this delicious bread at home.

Story Time

Jatin and I both love bread a lot. We are crazy fans of bread. And when we bought a microwave, the main purpose of it was to start baking bread at home. And while I was searching for an easy bread, I landed on this Focaccia bread which we never heard of. It looked beautiful and seemed pretty simple to make. That is why I decided to make it first. My first try was not the best one but it still tastes really good. The flavors of different veggies and garlic and the aroma of herbs made it feel like you are having a pizza 🙂

It took me a couple of tries to figure out all the techniques for making bread. Even when you follow the exact same recipe, the results vary. It happens mostly because of changes in the flour, temperature, proofing, kneading, timing, and many other different reasons. So, when I mastered the Focaccia bread recipe that needed 100% all-purpose flour (maida), my goal was to make it using whole wheat flour. I started by mixing 50% whole wheat flour (how daredevil I am) and it took me months to figure out the best possible recipe. As soon as you start adding whole wheat flour, things start to change 🙂 And when Jatin had it, he was amazed. Whenever I make this bread, it goes within minutes. Doesn’t last a day.

I even have the recipe now for 100% whole wheat flour Focaccia Bread that is again very light, airy, and fluffy. Try that, after mastering this recipe.

If you are in a hurry, watch the video instead and If you enjoy watching it, Plz Subscribe to our Youtube channel.

Tips to bake it right

Room Temperature: Make sure that all the ingredients are at room temperature. It is very important in baking.

Measure Accurately: Correctly measuring the ingredients is very important. Adding extra flour is one common mistake. Just fill your measuring cup with the flour and then level it off with a knife.

Sifting: Sift the flour. This ensures that there are no lumps in the dough.

Overmixing: This is something that happens accidentally. Over-mixing the dough makes the bread hard. If you are kneading by hand, knead until it becomes soft and smooth. If you are using a stand mixer, knead till it starts to leave the sides (not completely though). Touch the dough with your finger. If it doesn’t stick, that’s your clue to stop kneading.

Temperature: Make sure the water is lukewarm – neither hot nor cold. If it is too hot, it will kill the yeast. If it is cold, it won’t activate the yeast. You should be able to put your finger in the water. That’s another clue!

How to store homemade Focaccia Bread?

You can store this bread in an air-tight container and leave them on the countertop for at least 2 to 3 days (depending on the temperature at your place). Although, since it is homemade with no chemicals or preservatives, it might be stale after 2 days. Rehea while serving. It tastes absolutely good.

You can easily refrigerate it for a week. Put it in an airtight container otherwise, it might become dry. Reheat it in the microwave and it will be soft and perfect for the evening snack with some tea or coffee.

You can even put it in the freezer for up to a month. I haven’t tried this method because ours don’t last that long and we like to bake fresh. But you can pack it well, either with the cling wrap or in an air-tight container, and freeze them. Before serving, just reheat or toast.

Having said that, they won’t last for more than a day. Trust me on this 😀

How to Re-heat Focaccia Bread?

My preferred way is to heat them in the microwave for a few seconds. It becomes soft and feels fresh. I love it. But if you like slightly toasted and crispy bread, reheat them in the oven. Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius and bake them for around 5 to 7 minutes. They might over-bake and become dry & hard too. So, keep an eye on them.

You can simply toast them also on a pan or a toaster. This is the easiest way of all.

Is this recipe Vegan?

Yes. It is a 100% vegan and plant-based recipe. All the ingredients used in this recipe are vegan and plant-based.

If you want more vegan recipes, here are a few options: Banana Walnut Muffins, Mini Mango Cheesecake, Vegan Fudgy Brownie.

Now you are all ready to make this vegan, soft, and crusty focaccia bread at home, with full confidence. It is perfect for evening snacks, mid-night cravings or even to serve your guests at your next house party. Just cut it into cubes and it makes a perfect party snack. So, grab all the ingredients, and let’s get baking.