Why does the title say potato focaccia but I don't see any potatoes? Well, because they're hidden inside the dough! The grated potatoes are the secret ingredient to making this rosemary focaccia bread super soft and fluffy. It's so delicious on its own or even used as sandwich bread for lunch or for a snack.
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I always heard of potato focaccia in Italy and I tasted it from a bakery, but only recently attempted of making it myself. Some recipes add grated raw potatoes but I preferred this version with cooked potatoes. The starch of the potatoes and their consistency, make the bread more soft and chewy.
I loved playing also with the size of the rosemary focaccia, making it into a small baking pan instead of a large baking tray, as I do with my Classic Focaccia Bread. This way it didn't spread and it came out super tall and fluffy. Perfect to slice in half and use as sandwich bread!
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Ingredients
- Potatoes. Since the potatoes need to be mashed to be incorporated into the dough, the best type of potatoes to be used is the starchy kind, like the Russet Potatoes.
- Rosemary. You can use dried rosemary in place of the fresh one. Or you can use any other herb you prefer, like thyme, sage, or oregano.
- Flour. I use all-purpose flour for this recipe. You can also try to make this focaccia with bread flour, wholemeal, or spelt flour, but the end result may be different as each type of flour will react differently while proofing.
- Yeast. Fresh and dry yeast are very different in terms of quantity and usage. For this recipe, I only suggest using instant dry yeast for the best result. You can substitute with 0.6 oz of fresh yeast, melted in warm water with sugar before adding it to the other ingredients, but I cannot guarantee the same results. You can also use the same amount of active dry yeast instead of instant dry yeast. The only difference is that you need to bloom the active dry yeast in warm water with sugar for about 10 minutes before adding it to the other ingredients.
How to make Potato Focaccia
Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well, first with a spoon or spatula and then with your hands.
When you get a smooth and slightly sticky dough, cover the bowl and let it rest to rise for at least 2 hours, in a warm place.
Once the dough doubled in volume, oil a 9 x 9 inch (22 x 22 cm) baking pan and transfer the dough to it. Spread it in the pan, then cover again with plastic wrap or foil and let it rise again for another 30 minutes.
Drizzle some olive oil on top and make holes with your fingers.
Add some more oil if needed. Then sprinkle salt all over the surface and add the fresh rosemary.
Bake in the preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown on top. Let it cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving.
Can you freeze Focaccia Bread?
Yes, you absolutely can freeze Focaccia bread and I actually recommend it unless you plan on finishing the whole thing on the same day. After a couple of days, the bread will start becoming stale and lose its softness, while freezing will preserve its freshness.
I usually portion the bread into squares and then add them to a freezer bag. You can freeze them for up to 6 months. You can thaw easily in the microwave, this way you'll get warm Focaccia bread just as fresh and soft as out of the oven.
Having frozen portioned bread is very handy for a snack once in a while or to have it ready for a last-minute lunch. I always have some Focaccia in my freezer and it's my favorite bread ever!
FAQ & Tips
Yes, you can absolutely use dried rosemary in place of the fresh one. Or you can use any other herb you prefer, like thyme, sage, or oregano.
Fresh and dry yeast are very different in terms of quantity and usage. For this recipe, I only suggest using instant dry yeast for the best result. You can substitute with 0.6 oz of fresh yeast, melted in warm water with sugar before adding it to the other ingredients, but I cannot guarantee the same results. You can also use the same amount of active dry yeast instead of instant dry yeast. The only difference is that you need to bloom the active dry yeast in warm water with sugar for about 10 minutes before adding it to the other ingredients.
Like all homemade bread, it doesn't stay fresh and soft for long. After 24 hours it already starts drying up and after 2 days it will be crunchy and not pleasant. That's why I recommend freezing the focaccia within 24 hours to keep it fresh for up to 6 months.
Since the potatoes need to be mashed to be incorporated into the dough, the best type of potatoes to be used is the starchy kind, like the Russet Potatoes.
You can find step-by-step photos, and tips in the post above.
Related recipes you might like
If you like this recipe, try also these other bread recipes:
📖 RECIPE
Ingredients
Method
- Peel and boil the potatoes for about 20 minutes or until fork tender. Let them cool, then mash them with a potato ricer into a large bowl.
- Add the flour, olive oil, sugar, instant dry yeast and salt to the bowl and mix well, first with a spoon or spatula and then with your hands, until you get a smooth and slightly sticky dough.
- You can grease lightly the bowl if you want but it's not necessary. Cover the bowl and let it rest to rise for at least 2 hours, in a warm place.
- Once the dough doubled in volume, oil a 9 x 9 inch (22 x 22 cm) baking pan and transfer the dough in it. Spread it in the pan, then cover again with plastic wrap or foil and let it rise again another 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil on top of the focaccia and make holes with your fingers. Add some more oil if needed. Then sprinkle salt all over the surface and add the fresh rosemary.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown on top. Let it cool 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Video
Notes
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Miki Fato says
How many potatoes? It is not clear. Only 7 ounces?
Jessica Montanelli says
Hi Miki, Yes that's correct, 7 ounces of potatoes as mentioned in the ingredient list. 🙂
Judy Giannelli says
Is that 7 oz of cooked or uncooked potatoes. Not clear
Jessica Montanelli says
Hi Judy, Thank you for your comment. It's 7 oz of uncooked potatoes. I'll edit the post to make it more clear. 🙂
L J Mesh says
Very easy to make and the rising time is certainly worth it when taking the focaccia out of the oven and enjoying the rich fragrance and flavor of this bread!
Jessica - Cooking my Dreams says
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it 🙂