Crisp garlic and thyme focaccia bread

Looking for the perfect accompaniment for a pot of soup steaming with flavour? Surprise your guests with crisp garlic and thyme focaccia bread. With just a few quality ingredients, your kitchen will be filled with the rich aroma of savoury bread baking in the oven.

The best of all is that this recipe is incredibly versatile. You can easily interchange the herbs and add almost any vegetable or herb to this delicious bread. A simple combination of garlic and thyme or a mix of exotic olives and sun-dried tomatoes work equally well. Make this dish work for you according to what you have on hand!

You can serve the garlic and thyme focaccia bread with rich soup, or just slice it in half and pile on cured meats such as ham or salami.

Garlic And Thyme Focaccia

5.0from1voteRecipe by Robyn BrittowCourse: SidesCuisine: GlobalDifficulty: EasyPrep time

20minutesCooking time

35minutesTotal time

55minutes

This recipe is super easy and will without a doubt leave you (and your guests) astounded with its irresistible result.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 5 ml salt
• 15 ml dry active yeast
• 2 cloves garlic – sliced
• a few sprigs of thyme
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• extra olive oil for drizzling

METHOD

• In a jug add the yeast, sugar and water and allow to bloom for 10 minutes until the yeast foams up at the top.
• In a separate bowl, sift the flour and add the salt, followed by the yeast mixture.
• Mix together to form a ball and knead until you have a smooth dough (For about 10 to 15 minutes).
• Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover.
• Allow the bread dough to rise for 1 hour. Grease a baking tray.
• Once the dough has risen to about double in size, knead it down with your fists and place into the greased baking tray, making sure the dough reaches the corners of the baking tray.
• Using the back of a wooden spoon, poke holes in the dough to make indentations and fill these with the slices of garlic and thyme.
• Pour the ¼ cup of olive oil over the dough and cover. Allow rising for 30 minutes or until double in size.
• Place the dough in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius and bake for 30 – 35 minutes until golden brown.
• Once the focaccia bread is done, drizzle with olive oil and allow to cool slightly before serving.
• Cut into slices and enjoy.