Focaccia

In Ancient Rome, panis focacius[1] was a flat bread baked on the hearth.[5] The word is derived from the Latin focus 'hearth, place for baking'.[6] The basic recipe is thought by some to have originated with the Etruscans, but today it is widely associated with Ligurian cuisine.

Outside Liguria, the word usually refers to the Genoese variants.[7] In Genoese, it is called fügassa. In Barese, it is called fecàzze.

The first attestation of the word focaccia appears in 1300.[8]

Focaccia is sometimes considered to be a kind of pizza,[lower-alpha 1] though focaccia is left to rise after being flattened, while pizza is baked immediately.[lower-alpha 2]

Focaccia has countless variations along the Ligurian coast, from the biscuit-hard focaccia secca to the corn-flour, oily, soft Voltri version,[11][12]), some bearing little resemblance to the Genoese version.

An extreme example is focaccia col formaggio 'focaccia with cheese', also called focaccia di Recco or focaccia tipo Recco, which is made in Recco, near Genoa. This version has stracchino cheese sandwiched between two layers of paper-thin dough.[13]

Other versions have a surface covered with sauce or ham; there are also sweet versions with cream, fruits and gianduia cream.

Focaccia genovese, marked by its finger-sized holes on its surface (ombrisalli in Genoese dialect)[14] is brushed or sprinkled with olive oil, coarse salt, and sometimes water before the final rise.[14][15]

In Genoa, focaccia is eaten in the morning at breakfast or during the day. It is often dipped in milk or in cappuccino at breakfast and eaten warm and wet.[14]

Fügassa Genovese

Focaccia Gourmet

Focaccia col formaggio or focaccia di Recco, a typical variety of focaccia made in Recco

In Northwest Italy, a popular variant is focaccia dolce 'sweet focaccia', which is sprinkled lightly with sugar, and may include raisins or honey.[16] In Northeast Italy, focaccia veneta 'Venetian focaccia' is typical for Easter: it is based on eggs, sugar and butter and it is similar to panettone and pandoro.

In the South Tyrol and the Austrian village of Krimml, Osterfochaz (in Krimml Fochiz) is a traditional Easter gift from godparents to their godchildren. It is made slightly thinner in the centre so that dyed eggs can be placed there.[17]

Focaccia al rosmarino

Focaccia al rosmarino prepared with fresh rosemary from a garden

Focaccia al rosmarino 'focaccia with rosemary' is topped with rosemary.[9][18][19][20] It may be served as an antipasto, table bread, or snack.[21][22][23][24] Whole or sliced fresh rosemary leaves may be used,[18] as can dried rosemary.[25] It may be garnished with sprigs of fresh rosemary after baking[19] and sprinkled with salt.[25] Potato rosemary focaccia is often called "potato pizza" in New York City.[26]

Although rosemary is the most common herbs used to flavor focaccia,[27] sage (focaccia alla salvia) is also used.[19]

Focaccia al rosmarino may have a moist texture, and the exact recipe varies.[28] It may be savory or sweet.[28] It is typically baked, although it is sometimes fried.[28] Garlic[18] or basil may be added.[29] It is sometimes served accompanied with slices of prosciutto crudo.[30][31] It may be used in the preparation of sandwiches.[20][32]

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  Slices of focaccia al rosmarino
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  A close-up view of focaccia al rosmarino

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  Focaccia con salvia (focaccia with sage)
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  Focaccia with rosemary and cheese

Wikibooks Cookbook has a recipe/module on Focaccia Bread

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Focaccia.

• Pane, pizze, focacce e torte salate. Voglia di cucinare (in Italian). Giunti Demetra. 2010. p. 229. ISBN 978-88-440-3944-8.