Today, we’re giving this classic flatbread a modern twist! I’m excited to share my favorite way to transform traditional focaccia into a mouthwatering pizza that’s crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. This recipe is so simple and doesn’t take all day to make.
Step-by-Step Focaccia Pizza Instructions
- In a big mixing bowl Whisk 2 1/4 tsp Instant Yeast With 1/2 c Warm Water along with 1 tsp sugar
- Next add 3c flour , 1c warm water, 1/4 c olive oil, 2 tsp salt
- Mix by hand or with a dough mixer for a few minutes, it just needs to form and it will be pretty sticky
- Cover with towel for 1 hr, I put it in the oven with just the oven light on to warm it. The dough will double in size
- Grease up your 13×9 sheet pan with olive oil
- Put your dough onto the greased sheet pan and stretch it out.
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and set the pan with dough on top of the oven while it preheats for 15 minutes, this allows for a little extra rise
- Drizzle olive oil on your dough and dimple it, this is the most satisfying part aside from eating it
- Bake your dough for 10 minutes with no toppings, this is called par baking
- Take your focaccia out of the oven
- Add sauce, cheese and whatever toppings you like, I chose classic pepperoni
- Bake an additional 10-15 minutes
- Let it cool a little before eating, unlike my wife – who burns her mouth every time
Pizza Toppings and Variations
- You’re only limited by your imagination with this recipe, use whatever toppings you have on hand or are craving
- Some recipe inspiration: Buffalo Chicken With Mozzarella, Shredded Brisket with Crispy Onions and BBQ sauce, Classic Tomato Basil, heck you could even turn this into a dessert by drizzling melted butter with some cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on it
- Experiment and have fun with it, this is just dinner – don’t take it too seriously
- Because the dough is vegan, this recipe can be made both vegetarian and vegan friendly
Baking Tips and Techniques
- Optimal oven temperature is 425 and I like to put the convection setting on whenever I’m baking, this allows the air to circulate around the oven and creates a more even bake
- Ovens tend to have hotter spots in them, just like when we are cooking over a grill or in a smoker, convection settings allow us to overcome this
- Make sure you have a few hours to cook this, it doesn’t take all day like a lot of recipes involving dough can – but this is not something you can throw together in 20 minutes
- Par baking is mentioned in the recipe, this is when we throw our prepared dough into the oven to get a little head start in the cooking process, then we add our toppings – this allows our pizza to be fully cooked and even a little crispy on the bottom without burning our ingredients
- This pizza-like any pizza is great when eaten cold, however, I prefer my leftovers heated up when possible – the best way I’ve found to do this is to air fry it
With this focaccia pizza recipe in your culinary arsenal, you’ll be able to create restaurant-quality Italian fare right in your own kitchen. Remember, the key to perfect focaccia pizza lies in giving the dough enough time to develop its flavor and using quality ingredients. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different toppings and make this recipe your own! Share your creations with me by shooting me an email at [email protected], and tag us in your social media posts on Instagram @firexbites – I’d love to see your versions of this Italian-inspired favorite.
-Justin
