Randy Chandler
Focaccia is a delicious Italian flatbread with a soft, fluffy texture and a crispy crust. It is typically seasoned with olive oil, herbs, and salt, and can be served with a variety of toppings and sides. When it comes to cheese, focaccia is a versatile bread that pairs well with many different varieties. Some popular choices include mozzarella, parmesan, feta, cheddar, and ricotta. You can also experiment with different combinations of cheeses to create unique flavours. In addition to cheese, focaccia goes well with meats, salads, soups, and dips. So, whether you're looking for a simple snack or a more substantial meal, there are endless possibilities for what cheese to serve with focaccia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese Combinations | Mozzarella, Parmesan, Feta, Ricotta, Cheddar, Asiago, Cream Cheese, Goat Cheese, Burrata |
| Additional Ingredients | Olive oil, flaky sea salt, rosemary, garlic, basil, oregano, sage, thyme, Italian seasoning |
| Meals | Salads (Caesar, cranberry quinoa, chop), soups (tomato, minestrone), roasted chicken, steak, meatballs, pizza, quiche, frittata |
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What You'll Learn
Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Feta Focaccia
Ingredients:
- Focaccia bread (store-bought or homemade)
- Fresh mozzarella
- Parmesan cheese
- Feta cheese
- Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- Rosemary
- Cornmeal (optional)
- Kosher salt or flaky sea salt
Instructions:
Start by preparing your focaccia bread. If you're making it from scratch, combine water and dry active yeast in a bowl. Use a fork or whisk to mix them together. Then, add olive oil, flour, and salt to the bowl. Mix on low speed for about 2 minutes until the dough comes together. Place a kitchen towel over the bowl and let the dough rest for 5 minutes. Continue mixing on medium speed until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides, then mix for an additional 2-3 minutes. The dough should be smooth at this point.
Next, drizzle a baking pan with olive oil and sprinkle with rosemary and cornmeal (if desired). Spread the dough onto the prepared pan. Drizzle the dough with more olive oil and use your fingertips to create dimples on the surface, giving it that signature focaccia look. Now it's time to add your cheese! Sprinkle a generous amount of grated or cubed mozzarella, Parmesan, and feta cheese on top of the dough. You can also add some rosemary and salt to taste.
Cover the focaccia with parchment paper and let it rise until fully proofed. Preheat your oven to around 400 degrees Fahrenheit (the exact temperature may vary depending on your oven). Bake the focaccia until it is golden, sizzling, and bubbly. The baking time will depend on your oven and the thickness of your dough, but it should take around 30-35 minutes.
Once it's done, let the focaccia cool slightly before serving. This cheesy focaccia is best enjoyed fresh, but any leftovers can be stored in the fridge and reheated.
Serving Suggestions:
This focaccia can be served as a side dish or turned into a more substantial meal. Here are some ideas:
- Enjoy it as a side with a hearty soup like minestrone or a simple tomato soup.
- Create a charcuterie board with olives, additional cheeses, antipasti, and sliced meats.
- Serve it with a salad, such as a cranberry quinoa salad or a classic Caesar salad.
- Make it a breakfast dish by spreading cream cheese, tomato, red onion, cucumber, chives, dill, and smoked salmon on top.
- For a simpler breakfast option, spread ricotta cheese and honey on a slice of focaccia.
- Pair it with some sliced meats like mortadella or finocchiona.
- Dip it in high-quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
- Enjoy it with a glass of wine, such as a crisp white wine or a full-bodied red, depending on your preference.
Feel free to get creative and add your favourite herbs, spices, or additional toppings to the focaccia. Enjoy the delicious combination of mozzarella, Parmesan, and feta cheeses with the fluffy focaccia bread!
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Ricotta and Honey
To make this at home, spread a layer of fresh ricotta onto your focaccia and then drizzle honey on top. You can also add some sliced tomato, red onion, cucumber, chives, dill, and smoked salmon on top of a cream cheese base for a more complex flavour.
For a warm, baked option, try this recipe:
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare your focaccia dough and press deep holes all over it.
- Brush the dough with olive oil, so it puddles in the impressions.
- Arrange apple and fig slices on top.
- Dot the fruit with ricotta and drizzle with honey.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, until browned and cooked through.
- Cool slightly, then slice and serve warm, drizzled with citrus olive oil.
For an even simpler recipe, try this one:
- Preheat your oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Stretch and push your dough towards the sides of an 8x8-inch baking dish greased with oil.
- Dollop ricotta on top and sprinkle with Parmesan.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
- While the focaccia bakes, prepare a salad of arugula and spinach with oil, salt, and pepper.
- Remove the focaccia from the oven and let it cool for 5-6 minutes.
- Drizzle honey and, if you like spice, chili oil over the focaccia.
- Cut the focaccia into slices and serve with the salad.
Enjoy the sweet and salty flavours of ricotta and honey on your focaccia!
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Cheesy Garlic Focaccia
Ingredients
- Water
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Olive oil
- Italian seasoning
- Garlic
- Salt
- Flour
- Mozzarella cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Butter
- Rosemary
Method
- In a large bowl, combine water, sugar, and yeast. Stir, then let it rest for 5 minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, and salt.
- Pour half of the oil mixture into the yeast mixture. Set the remaining oil mixture aside.
- Add flour to the oil and yeast mixture. Stir to combine.
- Add the dough to a greased bowl and cover. Let the dough rest for 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.
- When ready, preheat the oven to 450°F. Pour the remaining oil mixture into a 12-inch cast-iron skillet. Use a pastry brush to coat the skillet.
- Add half the dough to the skillet and work it to the edges. Use your fingers to create dimples in the dough.
- Top the dough with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Spread the garlic butter over the top of the dough, followed by the rest of the mozzarella and all of the cheddar cheese.
- Bake in the oven for 18-25 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is hot and bubbly.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
- Serve hot with marinara sauce for dipping.
What to Serve with Cheesy Garlic Focaccia
- Salads: A Caesar salad or a cranberry quinoa salad with almonds and feta cheese would pair well with the focaccia.
- Dips: A salty, fluffy, and cheesy dip made with feta or a spread of ricotta and honey would complement the focaccia nicely.
- Soups: Tomato soup, minestrone, or any other soup would go well with the focaccia.
- Meat and Cheese: Sliced meats such as mortadella or finocchiona, or sliced cheeses such as burrata or goat cheese, can be served with the focaccia.
- Eggs: A frittata or quiche made with greens like kale would be a tasty option to serve with the focaccia.
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Salads and Soups
If you're after a salad with a little more complexity, a cranberry quinoa salad is a healthy and scrumptious option. The tangy sweetness of the cranberries pairs very well with focaccia. You could also try a lemon citrus salad, which would complement the saltiness and oiliness of the focaccia.
When it comes to salads, you can't go wrong with a Caesar salad. The dressing is a flavour explosion that will elevate your focaccia. Any salad with bread and cheese will work, so get creative! For example, a loaded chop salad with lots of veggies, a meat component, cheese, and a hard-boiled egg is a great option.
For a simple breakfast option, spread some ricotta and honey on your focaccia. The creaminess of the ricotta and the sweetness of the honey make for a fragrant and satisfying meal.
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Meat and Fish
Focaccia is a versatile bread that can be served with various meats and fish. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Meat
Focaccia can be used as a sandwich bread, and there are endless possibilities for fillings. Some classic options include deli meats such as mortadella or finocchiona, paired with cheese and vegetables. For a more substantial sandwich, try a "breakfast pizza" made with focaccia, topped with sausage gravy, crispy hash browns, bacon, scrambled eggs, and grated cheese. Another option is a chicken sandwich with Italian dressing, spinach, bell pepper, and provolone cheese. If you're feeling adventurous, try an apple bacon cheddar grilled cheese on focaccia, served with tomato soup.
Focaccia also makes a great side for meat dishes. It pairs well with chicken, especially when the chicken is marinated in harissa paste or cooked with lemon or vinegar. A juicy steak is another excellent option to serve with focaccia, creating a contrast between the crispy bread and tender meat. For a heartier meal, top your focaccia with meatballs and sauce or try it with a frittata or quiche.
Fish
Focaccia is a great choice for fish dishes as well. It can be served as a side or used as a base for fish sandwiches. For a light and refreshing option, pair your focaccia with white fish cooked with lemon or vinegar. If you're looking for a more substantial meal, try a shrimp dish, such as shrimp scampi, and dip your focaccia in the sauce.
So there you have it! Focaccia is a versatile bread that can be paired with a variety of meats and fish to create delicious and satisfying meals. Whether you use it as a sandwich bread, a side, or a base for toppings, the possibilities are endless.
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Frequently asked questions
Mozzarella, Parmesan, Feta, and Cheddar are some cheeses that are popularly paired with focaccia.
Cheese can be incorporated into focaccia by sprinkling shredded cheese on top of the bread, adding it as a filling, or spreading it as a base layer.
A warm, toasted focaccia filled with three different types of cheese, garlic tomato paste, roasted capsicums, juicy tomatoes, and basil leaves is one example of a dish that includes focaccia and cheese. Another example is a breakfast recipe that includes focaccia as its foundation, topped with tomato, red onion, cucumber, chives, dill, and smoked salmon on top of a cream cheese base.
Salads, such as a cranberry quinoa salad or a Caesar salad, go well with focaccia and cheese. Another option is to pair focaccia and cheese with a soup, such as tomato soup or minestrone.
When making cheesy focaccia, it is recommended to use a combination of shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese, but other shredded cheeses can also be used. Flaky sea salt can be added to the top for flavor and appearance, and the focaccia can be baked at 425°F for 20-30 minutes or until it is golden brown and the edges are crisp.
