Gluten-Free Focaccia Bread
If you're craving focaccia bread but want to skip the gluten, this Gluten-Free Focaccia Bread recipe is just what you need! It is also free from dairy and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Serve it as an appetizer or side with olive oil.
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Focaccia bread is a flat-leavened oven-baked bread from Italy. It is usually made with strong white bread flour, which contains a high amount of gluten. The texture of focaccia bread is similar to that of pizza, and in some areas, it is also known as 'pizza bianca'. It can be made in a circle or square shape.
This delicious bread became extremely popular on TikTok and Instagram in Spring 2020, and people have been making their own variations ever since. This is a gluten-free version of focaccia bread. Although focaccia bread is usually made with flour that has a high gluten content, it is still possible to make focaccia bread using gluten-free flour.
In addition, this is also a vegan focaccia recipe as it does not include dairy products. Serve this gluten-free focaccia bread with Quick Heirloom Tomato Burrata Salad, Quick Margherita Pizza, Baked Meatballs in Meatball Sauce, creamy Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Broccoli or Salad.
Why You Should Try This Recipe
- The texture is not the same as regular focaccia, but it is still delicious.
- This tasty gluten-free focaccia bread can be served as an appetizer, side or sandwich bread.
- It is made with a few easy-to-find ingredients.
- You can bake it in a square or rectangular tray.
Gluten-Free Focaccia Bread Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Gluten-Free Flour (self-raising): To make this focaccia bread gluten-free, use GF self-raising flour. There are so many different brands of gluten-free flour on the market. For this recipe, go for a gluten-free self-raising flour blend.
- Active fast yeast: This is also called 'quick-rise' or 'rapid-rise' in some countries and by different brands.Â
- Warm water: The water should be warm enough that you can place your finger in it for up to 10 seconds without removing it or feeling a burning sensation.
- Dried herbs: Choose your favorite herbs for this gluten-free focaccia bread recipe. Rosemary and thyme are good choices.
- Olive oil: Use extra virgin olive oil for best results.
- Sesame oil: For flavor.
- Agave syrup: You can replace agave with maple syrup if you don't have agave syrup on hand.
Tips and Substitutions
- Flour: Use a gluten-free self-raising flour blend instead of a gluten-free plain flour. This recipe has been tested with self-raising flour, and plain flour may not be successful.
- Water: Make sure your water is warm, not hot. Hot water kills the yeast, and your bread will not rise properly.
- Herbs: Use your favorite dried herbs for this gluten-free focaccia bread recipe. Rosemary and thyme are great options.
- Substitutions: If you don't have any agave syrup, you can use maple syrup as a substitute. You may also enjoy this Korean Cream Cheese Garlic Bread.
How to Make Gluten-Free Focaccia Bread
- First, preheat your oven to 170C/340F. Then, grab a bowl and combine warm water, agave syrup, yeast, and two tablespoons of flour. Cover the bowl with a cling film and set aside for 15 minutes.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining flour, dry herbs and salt.
3. Next, add the dry ingredients and a spoonful of olive oil and sesame oil to the wet ingredients.
4. Mix and cover the dough for 30 minutes. During this time, the dough should rise.
5. Cover a baking dish with parchment paper and transfer the dough to the baking dish. The baking dish can be round or square.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, then brush the hot focaccia with olive oil and sprinkle more herbs and/or garlic.
7. Once the focaccia has cooled, cut it into small pieces and serve. This gluten-free focaccia bread recipe is great as an appetizer or side dish. You may also enjoy this Halloumi Cheese Salad with Pomegranates.
Recipe FAQs
The original focaccia bread recipe uses strong white bread flour and as such contains gluten. However, you can make a gluten-free version using gluten-free flour.
This could be because your dough is too dry or if your gluten-free flour blend has a high amount of dense flour such as rice flour, oat flour, sorghum flour, and not enough starchy flour such as arrowroot flour, corn starchy flour, and potato starch.
While it is notably similar to pizza, focaccia bread differs slightly from pizza in terms of thickness and ingredients. Pizza is not as thick as focaccia bread, most pizza crust bread is somewhat thinner than focaccia bread. Also, focaccia bread contains more leavening agents than pizza crust, which is why it is thicker than pizza crust bread.
Focaccia bread pairs perfectly with soups and salads and makes an excellent base for sandwiches.
More Delicious Bread Recipes
Gluten-Free Focaccia Bread
Equipment
- Baking dish
- 2 Mixing bowls
Ingredients
- 180 g Gluten Free self-raising flour
- 6 g Active fast yeast
- 2 pinches of salt
- 150 ml Warm water
- ½ tsp. of dried herbs
- 2 tbsp. of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Sesame oil
- 1 tbsp. of Agave syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 170C/340F. In a deep bowl, combine warm water, agave syrup, dry fast yeast and two tablespoons of flour. Cover the bowl with cling film and leave to sit for 15 minutes.
- In separate bowl, combine the remaining flour, dry herbs, and salt.
- Next, add dry ingredients, a spoonful of olive oil and sesame oil to the wet ingredients. Stir until smooth. Leave the dough for half an hour and cover the bowl with cling film.
- Cover a baking dish with parchment, transfer the dough. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Brush the hot focaccia with olive oil, to which you can add garlic, fresh herbs if desired. Let the focaccia cool, then cut into small pieces and serve.
Notes
- Flour: Use a gluten-free self-raising flour blend as opposed to a gluten-free plain flour. This recipe has been tested with self-raising flour and using plain flour may not be successful.
- Water: Make sure your water is warm and not hot water. If your water is hot, it will kill the yeast and your bread will not rise properly.
