Ridiculously Easy Seeded Focaccia Bread

Loaded with healthy seeds and a generous scoop of whole wheat flour, this ridiculously easy, one-bowl, no-knead Seeded Focaccia Bread is also ridiculously delicious!

I'd hate for you to think that this blog is getting a little seedy - but it's actually true! Well hopefully, not in the sense of dictionary.com's definition of seedy: "poorly kept; run-down; shabby". But I have been playing with a lot of seeds lately. The house is a bit of quite a mess with those tiny little rascals rolling here, there and everywhere! But it's been totally worth it. Once you take the first bite of this Ridiculously Easy Seeded Focaccia Bread I think you'll agree.

This focaccia bread recipe is modeled after my Ridiculously Easy Focaccia Bread (pictured below) that we posted this past summer. It was the one recipe I made over and over during the months we packed up our home and moved from Raleigh, NC to the mountains near Asheville. Why did I make this bread during such a crazy, busy time? Because this focaccia is so darn easy it almost makes itself (ridiculously easy) and we always had something good to eat!

The recipe seemed to go viral on Pinterest almost immediately and now, 5 months later, it has over 78,000 pins and over 100 5-star reviews from readers who have tried it. Because this focaccia bread recipe is such a staple around here and because our readers have loved it so much, I've been toying around with a little healthier version. It's taken some experimentation (hence my house looking like a seed factory) but I think this Ridiculously Easy Seeded Focaccia Bread is just right now. I'm hoping you love it as much as we do!

What does Ridiculously Easy Mean?

A while back, I coined the term "ridiculously easy" for recipes that were so easy it was almost, well... ridiculous. But that's not the only criteria for ridiculously easy recipes. For those of you who are new to The Café, I actually made a list of attributes a recipe must have to be deemed "Ridiculously Easy":

• A recipe that takes minimal effort and minimal hands-on time to put together. (Resting, rising or chilling time is not taken into consideration.)
• It’s also one that produces fabulous, super delicious results, ie, results that “appear” to have taken lots of time, talent, prowess and/or hard work.
• Ridiculously easy recipes have to work well on those busy days when time is short and expectations are high.
• And last, ridiculously easy recipes are perfect for entertaining, mostly because of the first two characteristics. They take the stress out of dinner parties as well as gatherings of families and/or friends and allow you more time to enjoy your people.
• Bottom line? They're super simple, something anyone can do. (Shhhh! We’ll keep that part our secret.)

This Ridiculously Easy Seeded Focaccia Bread ticks all the boxes above and more! It's also decently healthy with a load of wonderful nutritious seeds. Although many of them are super tiny, these seeds are loaded with powerful health benefits. They're linked to improved cardiovascular, digestive, immune and bone health and there have been studies showing that regular consumption of seeds may contribute to the management of blood sugar. Seeds also can help control appetite, increase bone density and lower the risk for obesity and certain cancers. Wow, we all might need a little seedier life!

Like the original Ridiculously Easy Focaccia recipe, this easy seeded focaccia has a relatively small amount of oil compared to classic focaccia. 2 tablespoons per 8-inch round loaf is way less than the amount you'll find in most recipes. The most popular focaccia recipe online (according to Google) calls for a CUP of oil!

I say this focaccia has "a generous portion of whole wheat flour" because it's not 100% whole wheat. If you're looking for that you might want to check on a different recipe. I did substitute 1 cup of the all-purpose flour for whole wheat flour. The whole wheat flour, along with the nutritious seeds definitely adds more nutritional value to the recipe, while still being light, delicious and strewn with those classic Italian focaccia "tunnels" of air.

I really like the White Whole Wheat flour made by King Arthur. It's made from the whole grain and has the same nutritional value as whole wheat flour, but it's lighter in color and milder in flavor - a win-win! You can find King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour at most larger grocery stores, as well as big-box stores like Target and Walmart.

The technique for this Ridiculously Easy Seeded Focaccia Bread is similar to the original focaccia recipe; stir together flour, salt and yeast then add warm water and stir until combined. Refrigerate overnight for a long, slow rise. The next day, divide the dough in two and let it rise again in the pans. Bake, but be prepared for a crazy delicious aroma! Try to let it cool, then cut a thick slice and spread it with butter. You know what to do next, right?

I love to cut this Ridiculously Easy Seeded Focaccia Bread into long slices, add a bit of olive oil to a sauté pan and cook the bread over medium heat until golden and crisp. We also enjoy these crisp slices with salads, soups and entreés. This focaccia also makes a wonderful sandwich bread when cut into pie-shaped wedges and sliced horizontally.

Have I convinced you? Please try this wonderful, super easy... ridiculously easy seeded focaccia bread, asap! I think it will become a  favorite with your family/friends too!

Stay tuned for a delicious new soup recipe, our Instant Pot/Oven Pasta Beef Soup - coming up!

Café Tips for making this Ridiculously Easy Seeded Focaccia Bread

• You can find King Arthur Whole Wheat White flour at most larger grocery stores and at big box stores like Target and Walmart.
• I use one of these Danish Whisks to easily mix up my dough. They’re inexpensive and make whipping up any dough super simple.
• You can cut this easy seeded focaccia bread into wedges or crossways, into strips. I love cutting it in strips, crisping it up in a pan with a drizzle of olive oil and serving it with soup and salads. Just brush the cut sides of the bread lightly with olive oil then heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the bread and cook on both sides until golden. Delish!
• Be sure to grease your pan and line with parchment paper. I LOVE these pre-cut parchment rounds. They make my focaccia-making life a breeze!
• This recipe calls for Instant Yeast which is also called Rapid Rise Yeast. You can find Instant or Rapid Rise Yeast at most grocery stores, right next to the regular yeast or online. You can also buy it in bulk and store it indefinitely in the freezer. It’s infinitely cheaper buying yeast in bulk vs purchasing it in the little packets.
• Don’t worry about the exact rising time with this easy seeded focaccia bread. I have done as little as eight hours and as much as 24. Your results will be wonderful as long as it rises for at least 8 hours. The second rise (in the pan) should be at least 2 hours unless your kitchen is really warm. In this case, it may be a bit shorter. The dough should be close to filling the pan. Once you make the "dimples" and add the seeds, give the dough about 30 minutes to settle and rise a little in the pan before baking. This is an extra step that's not necessary with the original focaccia recipe but, with the seeds and WW flour, this extra time gives the bread a nice, light texture.
• Don’t be shy when you “dimple” the dough, just before baking. You want to poke your fingers in all the way to the bottom of the pan and actually make little holes with your fingers. This will ensure nice deep dimples that won’t disappear in the oven.

• Look for a flaky sea salt to top this bread. It gives a nice little crunch and a pretty presentation. I love Maldon. It’s more expensive than kosher or regular salt, but a box will go a long way. Use it as a “finishing” salt - just rub a pinch of it between your fingers over food to give a fabulous looking final touch.
• Use any seed mixture you want. Sometimes I'll vary the amounts of seeds and/or swap out one for another. You'll want a total of about ½ cup of seeds. Sometimes I substitute a tablespoon or two of quinoa or chia seeds for one of the others. Make it your own, use what you like.
• One caution on sunflower seeds. I love sunflower seeds but have found that they get rancid quite quickly when stored at room temperature. Be sure to smell the seeds before using. You'll be able to tell with one whiff whether they're rancid or not. I bought some just a few days ago at a local health food store. When I got home and unpacked my groceries I discovered they had gone bad. So sad!
• If you like a thinner, crispier bread, use two 9-inch pans rather than the 8-inch pans.

We also have a sweet version of this focaccia that takes only 2 hours, start to finish with 10 minutes of hands-on time. Check out this Ridiculously Easy Cinnamon Raisin Focaccia for an incredibly delicious breakfast/brunch treat!

5 from 13 votes

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Ridiculously Easy Seeded Focaccia Bread

Loaded with healthy seeds and a generous scoop of whole wheat flour, this Ridiculously Easy Seeded Focaccia Bread is also ridiculously delicious!

Author: Chris Scheuer

Course: Bread

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Ridiculously Easy Seeded Focaccia Bread

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 24 mins

Total Time: 39 mins

Servings: 24

Calories: 113 kcal

Ingredients

For the seed mixture:

• ¼ cup pepitas
• 1 tablespoon regular white sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons flax seed also called linseed
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

For the bread:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast 1 packet
• 2 cups hot tap water
• 1 teaspoon butter for greasing pans
• 4 tablespoons olive oil divided

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. For the seed mixture, combine all seeds in a small bowl and stir well to combine. Set aside.

2. In a medium-large bowl, combine both flours, salt, instant yeast and ¼ cup of the seed mixture. Stir well. Add the warm water. Using a Danish whisk, sturdy wooden spoon or sturdy rubber spatula, mix until all of the flour is incorporated and dough forms a ball. Scoot the dough over to one side of the bowl and drizzle a little olive oil into the bottom of the bowl. Turn the dough over in the bowl to coat thinly with oil.

3. Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.

4. Lightly butter two 8-inch cake pans. (You could also use 9-inch pans if you like a thinner, crispier bread.) Line pans with parchment paper. Pour one tablespoon of olive oil into the center of each pan and rub with your fingers to coat the bottom of the pan.

5. Divide dough in half with a large spoon or rubber spatula and place one piece of dough in each pan, turning to coat with oil. Tuck edges of dough underneath to form a rough ball. Cover each pan tightly with plastic wrap and allow the dough balls to rest for 2 hours or until the dough almost covers the bottom of the pans.
6. Drizzle another tablespoon of oil over each round of dough. With oiled fingers, using both hands, press straight down and create deep dimples that go all the way through the dough (in other words, you'll actually be making deep holes.) If necessary, gently stretch the dough as you dimple to allow the dough to fill the pan. Sprinkle the remaining seeds over the tops of the dough in the two pans. Sprinkle each pan generously with flaky sea salt.
7. Cover with a clean towel and allow pans to rest on the stovetop while the oven is preheating.
8. Preheat oven to 450˚F. After dough has rested for 30 minutes, transfer the pans to the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 425˚F. Bake for 18 to 24 minutes, until the tops are golden and the undersides are crisp. Remove pans from the oven. With a metal spatula remove bread rounds from the pans and transfer to a cooling rack. Serve warm or allow to cool completely then store in a zippered bag. Freeze: To freeze, allow bread to cool completely, then transfer to a ziplock bag and freeze. Thaw and enjoy at room temperature or warm for 10 minutes in a 350˚F oven.

Recipe Notes

See Café Tips above for additional instructions and more detailed tips.

Original focaccia recipe adapted from Alexandra Cooks

Calories 113kcal

Fat 3g

Sodium 196mg

Potassium 50mg

Carbohydrates 16g

Fiber 1g

Protein 3g

Vitamin A 5%

Calcium 20%

Iron 1.1%

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