Summer Tomato Focaccia ~ an easy yeast bread that can be made in just about a hour. Top it with juicy ripe cherry tomatoes and you’ve got a feast!
It’s always the same at this time of year, I race to make sure I’ve made all my summer favorites as the month of August marches on. The farmer’s market is at its absolute height right now, and the colorful heirloom tomatoes are finally here. They were a little late this season and I was starting to worry. My favorites are the teeny tiny ones, I use them for salads, salsas, and this focaccia bread.
I love my basic focaccia recipe, I’ve been making it for years and it always comes out perfectly. It takes a little over an hour to make from start to finish, and I can customize it for the season or the occasion. This is the high summer version. The little tomatoes burst open when you bite into it and their sweet juice, along with the rosemary, the Parmesan, and the salty bread is a real treat.
The soft sticky dough needs only 40 minutes to rise, and then you pat it out into a rough rectangle on a baking sheet. You dip your fingers in olive oil and poke it all over so there are luscious little pools of oil that flavor the bread. Then on go the tomatoes, some fresh rosemary, sea salt, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. There’s no second rise, it goes right into a hot oven.
This tomato focaccia is a great project for a beginning cook — the recipe is simple and straightforward but the result has got a real wow factor, and it feeds a crowd. You can top it with thinly sliced lemons, olives, sliced artichokes…the possibilities are endless.
More deliciously easy focaccia recipes on the blog ~
- Rosemary and Olive No Knead Focaccia Bread
- Whole What Skillet Focaccia with Pine Nuts
- Meyer Lemon and Rosemary Focaccia
Summer Tomato Focaccia
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water, about 110F
- 2 tsp yeast, or 1 packet
- 2 tsp table salt
- 4 cups bread flour
- olive oil
- fresh rosemary leaves, approximately 2 or 3 Tablespoons
- 1 pint of tiny heirloom tomatoes, or any small tomato
- grated Parmesan cheese for sprinkling
- Kosher or sea salt for sprinkling over the top
Instructions
- set the oven to 425F
- Put the yeast in a large mixing bowl and pour in the warm water.
- Add the salt and 2 cups of the flour, mix into a soft and sticky dough.
- Add the remaining 2 cups of flour and mix well. (The dough will still be sticky)
- Cover and let rise for 40 minutes in a warm place.
- Press out the dough on a well oiled, or silpat lined baking sheet. Using your fingers, ease it into a rectangle, approximately 9×13, give or take.
- Put the olive oil in a small bowl and dip your fingers into the oil, and then all over the bread, poking the bread surface and leaving little pools of oil. Do this all over the bread. Don’t skimp; this will result in great flavor after the bread is baked.
- Arrange the tomatoes across the top, pressing them into the dough slightly, then scatter the rosemary leaves evenly across the surface. Sprinkle sea salt over all, and finally top with a dusting of Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden.
- The rosemary will crisp up in the oven, so you may want to scatter some fresh leaves on top of the bread after baking to refresh the rosemary flavor and give it visual appeal.
Cook’s notes
You will need truly tiny tomatoes for this recipe. Even smaller than standard cherry tomatoes. If all you can find are cherry tomatoes, halve them before putting them on the dough.
43 Comments
Carolyn
May 9, 2022 at 5:14 pmSue, you leave the stems and leaves on the tomatoes? I was taking mine off until I took another look at your recipe and noticed your picture of the finished Focaccia.
Sue Moran
May 9, 2022 at 6:41 pmThat’s really only for looks Carolyn, I would remove the stems.
gary merrick
May 23, 2021 at 9:51 amwow and really mean it ! just incredible, possibly the best bread we ever made.
big thank you for sharing your brilliant recipe.
Gary & Sarah
Sue Moran
May 23, 2021 at 2:49 pmLove this Gary ~ now you have to try my other focaccia recipes!
Thomas
February 13, 2021 at 10:59 pmThis recipe is just brilliant. Easy to follow and makes an absolutely delicious and plump focaccia. Massive hit with family and friends. THANKYOU!
Carolyn
February 4, 2021 at 12:53 amSue, could parchment paper be used on the baking sheet instead of oiling it?
Sue Moran
February 4, 2021 at 5:58 amYes but it might be harder to spread the dough out, it’s elastic and the oil helps it adhere to the pan while you nudge it out into shape.
Julie I
September 2, 2020 at 5:19 pmEasy and fast- best focaccia ever! Very filling! I’ll try for pizza crust next.
Kallie
January 22, 2020 at 6:16 amThis was amazing! Thank you for the recipe. I added shallots and lemon zest and it turned out SO good!
I will definitely be making this again and continuing to experiment with toppings 😀
Sue
January 22, 2020 at 7:23 amThanks Kallie ~ I’ve got a few more focaccia variations on the blog, so check them out 🙂
Grace
August 13, 2019 at 4:15 pmHave you tried using whole wheat flour? Wondering if i get the same result? Thanks for you time and response.
Sue
August 13, 2019 at 6:00 pmI have made my focaccia many times with half whole wheat flour and it comes out great. I haven’t tried it with 100% whole wheat, so if you do, let me know how it turns out 🙂
Julie
July 27, 2019 at 3:32 pmThis is the BEST recipe ever. I make it every Summer when the tomatoes are vine ripe. Thanks, Sue.
Sue
July 27, 2019 at 6:04 pmOh thanks so much Julie, I love to hear that, my basic focaccia bread is dear to me, I’ve been making it for such a long time. Enjoy all the summer tomatoes 🙂