Crispy Mushroom Focaccia Recipe (2024)

By Erin Jeanne McDowell

Crispy Mushroom Focaccia Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 10 minutes, plus rising and resting
Rating
4(557)
Notes
Read community notes

In this recipe, the secret to achieving crispy, not soggy, mushrooms is roasting them twice: first, alone on a sheet pan until they’re just tender and their moisture reduced, then again on top of a soft and fluffy focaccia dough, where they will brown and crisp. For a vegan version, skip the Parmesan and use flaky salt or nutritional yeast instead.

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Ingredients

Yield:1 focaccia (about 12 pieces)

    For the Dough

    • cups/480 grams all-purpose flour
    • 1tablespoon instant yeast
    • teaspoons kosher salt
    • cups/420 milliliters warm water (about 95 to 100 degrees)
    • ¼cup/60 milliliters extra-virgin olive oil

    For the Topping

    • 30ounces/850 grams (about 2 pounds) trimmed assorted mushrooms, such as oyster, chanterelle, morels, trumpet, cremini
    • 6tablespoons/90 milliliters extra-virgin olive oil
    • Kosher salt and black pepper
    • Grated Parmesan or flaky sea salt
    • ½lemon
    • Fresh chopped chives (optional)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

274 calories; 12 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 35 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 7 grams protein; 375 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Crispy Mushroom Focaccia Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    In a large bowl, stir the flour, yeast, salt, water and oil together until well combined. The ingredients should come together easily to form a wet dough, about 2 minutes. Cover the bowl and let rise at room temperature for at least 8 hours and no more than 10 hours. (You can refrigerate at this point for up to 18 hours, then allow to come to room temperature before stippling.)

  2. Step

    2

    Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Prepare the mushrooms: Use a paring knife to trim the mushrooms and cut them into medium-large pieces, leaving smaller mushrooms whole whenever possible because they will shrink when they roast. On a baking sheet, toss the mushrooms with 3 tablespoons olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.

  3. Step

    3

    Spread the mushrooms in an even layer and roast until tender, 25 to 30 minutes. They should shrink a lot, but should only just begin to brown. Set aside to cool.

  4. Step

    4

    When the dough has fully risen, pour 2 tablespoons olive oil onto a baking sheet and spread all over the baking sheet with your hands. Pour the risen dough onto the baking sheet, and use your fingers to spread and stipple the dough until about ½-inch thick. Don’t worry if your dough doesn’t stretch much at first; it will be easier after it rests. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes.

  5. Step

    5

    Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and stipple again, but don’t let it thin out too much. (It’s more important that it remains the appropriate thickness, not that it fills the whole pan.) Arrange the cooled mushrooms in an even layer on top of the dough.

  6. Step

    6

    Top the focaccia with a generous, even layer of grated Parmesan or flaky sea salt. Bake until the edges of the focaccia become golden brown and the mushrooms are very crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.

  7. Step

    7

    Squeeze the lemon over the surface of the focaccia. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving. Top with chives just before serving, if using.

Ratings

4

out of 5

557

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Linda Cooks

I wanted to love this. It's so simple! Dough needs more salt. I'd up it to 1.5 Tbsp. It states "baking sheet" but does not specify size. Since I have made the Milk Street (MS) Pour in the Pan Pizza (very similar recipe) I knew it was a quarter sheet. The dough sticks like crazy. The MS recipe says to use nonstick spray AND olive oil to prevent sticking. I realized that as I was pouring this onto the pan. Otherwise, an easy recipe. Just needs a bit more flavor and nonstick spray.

Marian Modrak

Do not put salt on the mushrooms before roasting or they will never get really brown. Salt afterward.

Tessa

The dough is dull. Try making the dough from Cook’s illustrated (it has potato in it. Also more salt. I think it would be better if the Parmesean didn’t go on until the focaccia comes out of the oven.

kmm

Made using my usual fridge foccacia recipe (from Alexandra's Kitchen website), which is quite similar. I roasted a mix of cremini and shiitake mushrooms tossed with about 6 sprigs of thyme for the topping, and added a dusting of grated pecorino about 10 min before the bread finished baking. To avoid the sticking problem I baked on a silicone baking mat on a rimmed baking sheet, with the dough rolled in 2 tbsp olive oil before stippling. It was delicious and I will definitely make again.

Maggie P

Parchment paper does the trick.

Michelle

Love how the extra yeast gives a great rise. It needed more salt but not as much as the previous poster recommended. I’d do 1TBSP. Maybe I needed to bake a little longer because it was too wet and soft in the middle. Can’t add too much Parmesan. That was the highlight.

Elle

The overnight slow rise helps develop flavor which is a key to many of Alexandra’s delicious breads. Too much salt in an initial dough mix might reduce the rise.

rob

A sticking problem? pour a GOOD, healthy dose of olive oil in the pan before dropping out the dough. Not only will the dough not stick but it gives the focaccia a slightly crisp, buttery crust.

Ben Cooks

Used 1.5 tablespoons of salt (misread the instructions), but I think about 1 tablespoon it would have been good. I also added onions with the cooled mushrooms and it worked great.I would have baked the bread for 25-27 mins. I did it for 23 and it was still a little spongy.

Brie

I made this is a stand mixer and I have a couple notes: the dough needs more salt, and I needed to add 3 or 4tbsp more of flour for it to become a dough (it was very loose before that). The roasted mushrooms were nice, though I think adding aromatics to them would make them stand out more. Overall an ok recipe, but I don't believe I will be making it again soon

Veronica G

Overall a good recipe, though if I make this again, I’ll bake at closer to 440 or 450 degrees as the temperature wasn’t high enough to brown the crust. I used a mixture of cremini & shiitake mushrooms and subbed chives for fresh oregano (baked with the focaccia.) Following other comments, I added Parmesan after pulling it from the oven. Try coating your hands with olive oil before spreading the dough and add more oil to the baking sheet, I didn’t have an issue with sticky dough.

crispy mushrooms only

I had a whole thing typed out and the app crashed, which is probably a sign I should be more concise!I don’t bake often and comments here gave me pause, so went with a trusted focaccia dough recipe instead. The types of mushrooms recommended here are perfect. I had to rinse mine but depends on what mushrooms you get and where you get them! Press your mushrooms if you do have to rinse. Takes forever but it’s worth it. Don’t salt, just dry roast at high temp

Janet

My first focaccia - maybe there are better recipes, but we liked it. Followed the recipe, made the dough the night before and put it in the fridge in the morning. Might try another focaccia recipe mentioned to see how different it is, but I’ll be making it again.

Excellent

Willl definitely make again. Total crowd pleaser ar the party I made it for. This is one of those recipes that looks fancy but is truly easy to prepare. Added some thyme and red pepper flakes to the mushrooms pre-roast and garnished with parsley and green onion. Definitely recommend mixing some sh*takes in for texture The dough is super loose, but worked out fine. Needed a little extra baking time to brown to my liking, closer to 30-33 minutes

a cook from Toronto

This turned out well. Roasted the mushrooms (white, portobello, oyster and shiitake) a little longer on a tray lined with a silicone mat. Did not add S&P. Made dough at 9 last night and finished at 7 this morning. Used avocado oil on mushrooms and in dough (olive oil allergy) but worried that the flavour was too strong so used canola oil to finish the bread. Sprinkled sea salt and dried rosemary before topping with mushrooms. Baked at 425 for just under 30 minutes and it was perfect.

Mark

Made this. Huge amount for 2 people. Really not worth the effort in my opinion.

megan

Boring

Lyla

Can you substitute or mix in whole wheat flour?

sage

I combined this recipe with the BA “shockingly easy no knead focaccia” after reading some comments about this focaccia being bland - i think I cracked the code! Soooo good. I added a couple garlic cloves on top and I think this recipe really needs that - next time I’ll definitely add more. Topped with truffle oil to push it over the top and definitely will make again!

So Yummy!

The whole fam loved this. I used three kinds of mushrooms and followed the note to add more salt to the dough. Delish! I did not add cheese because we are dairy free, but maybe if I had the dough wouldn't have needed the extra salt.

Josette

I was very excited to try this as I’ve enjoyed making my own pizza dough. In 9 hours the dough had doubled in size and was quite mushy so it spread easily in the pan ( unlike my pizza dough that needs a bit of coaxing) so I was not sure if that was correct. Unfortunately during baking it did not plump up but only got quite crispy… I thought focaccia had a soft texture in the middle? Any suggestions?

SwimForYourLife

I don't know if we did something wrong, but this was horrible. The mushrooms didn't roast in the oven, they dried up and were crispy, but not in a good way. We did only use one type of mushroom. Maybe that was the issue.The other day we had made the NY Times Eggplant Focaccia with Ricotta and Olives by Melissa Clark. That recipe was so good!

Renee Castle

Loved this! I did add 1 tsp more salt and 3 cups more flour and the bread came out fluffy and light, so lovely!

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Crispy Mushroom Focaccia Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my focaccia so crispy? ›

From my experimentation, I noticed higher temperatures with a thinner dough lead to crispier focaccia. On the other hand, lower temperatures with thicker doughs yield a softer crumb. Fermentation Time: This dough can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours. The longer the ferment, the more the flavor develops.

What is the best flour to use for focaccia? ›

Use your favorite kind—I prefer extra virgin olive oil. Bread Flour or All-Purpose Flour: I tested this focaccia with both and prefer the bread flour variety. Both are great, but bread flour has a higher protein content so it yields a chewier texture.

Why is my focaccia not fluffy? ›

Why is my focaccia not fluffy or chewy? It could be the type of flour you used. The best flour to use to make focaccia bread is bread flour which gives you fluffy baked bread. Or, it could also be because you did not knead the dough enough for the gluten to form a structure which can result in flat or dense bread.

What makes bread more crispy? ›

So introducing steam actually helps slow crust formation while your dough finishes rising. Then, towards the end of your baking time, open up the oven to release the steam and finish baking to dry out and crisp your bread's crust.

What makes bread dough crispy? ›

Simply put, it has to do with the starch in flour. As bread bakes, its outer layer (crust) eventually reaches 180°F. At that point, the starches on the surface burst, become gel-like, and then harden in the oven's heat to a crackly consistency. Steam hitting the bread's surface facilitates this process.

Why is my focaccia base not crispy? ›

High Oven Temperature: Preheat your oven to a high temperature, typically around 425°F (220°C) or higher. The initial high heat helps create a crispy crust. Use Olive Oil: Generously brush the Focaccia dough with olive oil before baking. The oil not only adds flavor but also contributes to a crispy crust.

Is focaccia better with bread flour or all-purpose flour? ›

Focaccia: The two focaccias were very different. The one made with bread flour was taller, airier, had much more open bubbles in the crumb, and browned nicely. In the mixer, the all-purpose dough never seemed to come together as a cohesive whole in the same way as the bread flour dough.

Should you punch down focaccia dough? ›

As Elizabeth Yetter wrote in her helpful primer "How To Punch Down Bread Dough," the more air pockets "you can remove from the dough, the finer the grain (or crumb) will be." While that's great for sandwich bread or sweet rolls, it's not as desirable for loaves, like focaccia, where you want airiness.

Does focaccia have to rise twice? ›

Room temperature first rise and room temperature second rise - The first rise will take about an hour to an hour and a half. Then transfer the dough to the pan and do a second rise, which should take anywhere between 40 minutes to an hour.

Can you let focaccia dough rise too long? ›

The longer you allow the dough to rise, the more air and spongey the bread will be. Overnight Dough: Proofing the dough for 9-14 hours overnight in the fridge is my preferred method, because of the slower fermentation. This process yields a better focaccia texture and taste.

What happens if you don't poke holes in focaccia? ›

If you forget to dimple your dough and bake it, the dough will collapse when the bubbles burst, resulting in sad focaccia and a sad baker. To dimple your dough, oil your fingers or the end of a wooden spoon handle and gently poke the dough.

How do you make focaccia crispy again? ›

Heat a non-stick skillet or frying pan over low to medium heat. Place the Focaccia slice(s) in the skillet and cover it with a lid or aluminum foil. Heat for a few minutes on each side until the Focaccia is warmed through and the crust is crispy.

What is the trick to fluffy bread? ›

Add Sugar

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

How wet should focaccia dough be? ›

Trust me. This dough will be very, very wet – almost like cake mix. If you can, wet your hands (to stop them sticking) and fold the dough over a little, just to see what a dough of this wetness (or 'hydration') feels like.

Is focaccia supposed to be crusty? ›

Focaccia is ½" to 1" thick with a light crust on the top and bottom. It's often described as "flatbread" or "Italian flat bread," but unlike the flat bread we're used to, it isn't flat at all, but thick and fluffy.

How do you soften up focaccia bread? ›

If you want to make stale bread soft again, wrap the bread in foil. If the crust of the bread is very hard, sprinkle a little water on the outside before you close the foil. Place the bread in a 300°F oven for 5-15 minutes or until the bread feels soft. If you added water, heat the bread until it no longer feels soggy.

How do you make bread less crispy? ›

Secrets to a Softer Crust
  1. Bake at Lower Temperatures. Many artisan bread recipes will have you cook your bread at a higher temperature to crisp the crust. ...
  2. Brush With Butter. ...
  3. Sweat It Out. ...
  4. Try a Recipe That Incorporates Milk. ...
  5. Use a Pain de Mie Pan.

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