ChefSteps is a team of chefs, writers, and food lovers who develop recipes, techniques, and guides to help people cook better at home.

ChefSteps

Focaccia is a chewy, flavorful, perfectly salty flatbread that pairs just as beautifully with lazy summer antipasto as it does a hearty plate of spaghetti and meatballs. Its charming dimples and craggy, bubbly interior make it a perennial crowd favorite. In Italy, focaccia is a hyper-local food, with a wide variety of textures and toppings. Think olives, peppers, little fishes, potatoes, onions, salt, herbs, and even some sweet toppings like raisins, anise, and lemon peel. Smother it in toppings for a pizza-adjacent experience, or keep it simple and use as a versatile sauce-dipping side. Our recipe is adapted for ultimate flavor and texture. Our favorite ingredient—time. We use a long, overnight rise to let the yeast really do its thing, and a series of gentle folds for maximum air bubble retention. Focaccia textures range from thick and plush, to thin and almost cracker-like. Ours is nice and puffy, but an egg wash ensures the crust keeps its chewiness, even under a healthy dousing of olive oil.