• 512 g bread flour
• 10 g kosher salt
• 8 g instant yeast
• 460 g lukewarm water
• butter for greasing
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• flaky sea salt
• 10 to 14 tomatoes, cut in half

Directions

1. Mix the Dough
   • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and yeast. Add water and mix with a rubber spatula until a sticky dough ball forms.
   • Rub the surface lightly with olive oil, cover, and refrigerate overnight (up to 3 days).
2. Prep the Pan
   • Grease a 9×13-inch pan with butter. Pour 2 tbsp olive oil into the center.
3. Deflate & Rest
   • With oiled hands, deflate the dough by pulling it toward the center, rotating the bowl as you go. Form a rough ball and place in the pan, rolling to coat in oil.
   • Rest 3–4 hours at room temp.
4. Dimple & Decorate
   • Preheat oven to 425°F. Pour remaining 2 tbsp olive oil over dough.
   • Using all your fingers, press straight down to create deep dimples, stretching dough to fill the pan if needed.
   • Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and nestle tomato halves into the dimples.
5. Bake & Cool
   • Bake 25–30 minutes until underside is golden and crisp.
   • Cool on a rack for 10 minutes before slicing.

🔢 Calorie Count (Per Slice — 12 Slices)

• Calories: ~210
• Protein: 6g
• Carbs: 32g
• Fat: 6g
• Sugar: 2g

📊 Nutritional Facts (Per Slice)

\*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Tomato Focaccia

👩‍🍳 Cooking Tips for Focaccia Success

• Cold fermentation = flavor magic — The longer it rests in the fridge, the better the flavor.
• Generous oiling — Don’t skimp; it’s what gives focaccia that signature crisp edge.
• Tomato trick — Pat tomatoes dry before adding to avoid soggy spots.
• Dimple with confidence — Press all the way down; those pockets hold the oil and salt.
• Check the bottom — Golden and crisp is the goal; lift a corner to peek before pulling it out.

💬 Reader prompt: What’s your dream focaccia topping combo? I’m always looking for new ideas to try.

🎨 Recipe Variations

• Herb Garden — Add rosemary, thyme, or basil before baking.
• Cheesy Bliss — Sprinkle shredded mozzarella or parmesan over the top.
• Olive Lover’s — Add halved Kalamata or green olives with the tomatoes.
• Sweet & Savory — Try figs and goat cheese for a brunch twist.
• Spicy Kick — Drizzle with chili oil before serving.

🧒 Kid Tips

• Let kids press the dimples — it’s basically edible Play-Doh.
• Use cherry tomatoes for a sweeter bite.
• Cut into breadstick shapes for easy dipping.
• Serve with a side of marinara for dunking fun.

💬 Reader prompt: Parents — do your kids go for the toppings or pick them off?

🛒 Grocery Hacks

• Bread flour — Buy in bulk; it keeps for months in an airtight container.
• Olive oil — Use good quality for flavor; save the fancy stuff for drizzling.
• Tomatoes — In winter, cherry or grape tomatoes have the best flavor.
• Yeast — Store in the freezer for long shelf life.
• Flaky salt — Maldon is a splurge, but worth it for the crunch.

📣 Reader’s Challenge: #TomatoDimple

Here’s your mission:

1. Make this Tomato Focaccia.
2. Get creative with your tomato pattern — stripes, spirals, smiley faces, go wild.
3. Snap a photo and post with #TomatoDimple.
4. I’ll feature the most creative designs in an upcoming post!

♻️ Leftover Remix

• Focaccia Pizza — Top with sauce and cheese, bake until bubbly.
• Panini Bread — Slice and grill with your favorite fillings.
• Croutons — Cube, toss with oil, bake until crisp.
• Soup Sidekick — Perfect with tomato soup or minestrone.
• Breakfast Base — Top with avocado and a fried egg.

💭 Final Thoughts

This Tomato Focaccia is proof that simple ingredients can create something spectacular. It’s the kind of recipe that makes your kitchen smell like heaven and your table feel like a celebration.

💬 Reader prompt: If you could only eat one type of bread for the rest of your life, would it be focaccia, sourdough, or baguette?

 

Some breads are just… bread. They’re fine, they do their job, and they don’t make a fuss. But this Tomato Focaccia? It’s an experience.

It’s the bread you bring to a potluck and watch disappear before the main course. The bread that makes people linger at the table, tearing off “just one more piece.” The bread that’s as good with a fancy cheese board as it is with a simple bowl of soup.

I love that it’s endlessly adaptable — you can keep it classic, pile on seasonal toppings, or even make it sweet. And it’s forgiving, too. Even if your dimples aren’t perfect or your tomatoes roll around a bit, it still comes out golden, crisp, and irresistible.

So here’s my challenge: make it, love it, and share it. Post your masterpiece with #TomatoDimple so we can all swap ideas, cheer each other on, and maybe even inspire the next great focaccia trend. Because bread is better when it’s shared — and this one is too good to keep to yourself.

Here’s to golden crusts, juicy tomatoes, and the kind of bread that makes life just a little more delicious. 🍅💛