This is our most requested side dish of all time - and once you make it you’ll understand why! The fresh garlic oil drizzled over the top mixed with italian herbs, fresh grated parmesean and the fluffiest of dough make it hard not to eat the entire pan in one sitting.

If you’ve never made bread dough before start here, with this recipe, it’s easy and super forgiving. You can garnish it however you choose and once you’ve made it a time or two I’m guessing you’ll be loading the top with your own special addtions of sundried tomatoes or kalamata olives, thinly sliced shallots or pesto.

But first, let’s make our all time favorite Parmesan Garlic Foccacia Bread!

Parmesan Garlic Foccacia Bread

1 cup warm water
1/3 cup Olive Oil
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons yeast

Topping

1/4 cup Olive Oil
3 garlic cloves minced
1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan Cheese
coarse salt to sprinkle

Using the dough hook on your stand mixer, add the water, olive oil, sugar, salt and italian seasoning to the bowl and combine. Add in the yeast and allow to sit for 5 minutes to begin activiating it. Mix in the flour and knead until the dough is soft and smooth.

*If you have a bread machine, add in all of the ingredients and set it to run the ‘dough’ setting.

While the dough is kneading in your mixer, drizzle 3 tablespoons of oil in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Once the dough is fully kneaded, oil your hands and transfer the dough in a large ball to the oiled baking dish. Drizzle a small amount of oil over the top of the dough, cover lightly with plastic wrap and allow it to rise for 40 minutes or until it is doubled in size. (*If you are using your bread machine, the dough will go thru the first rise in the machine)

Once the dough has doubled in size, oil your hands and drizzle a little more olive oil to full coat the 9x13 pan. Press the dough out into the pan. Once it is fully pressed out dimple the dough with your fingers, cover the baking pan again with plastic wrap and allow it to rise for another 20 minutes.

While it is rising for the second time, make your topping.

Pour the 1/4 cup of Olive Oil into a small frying pan and add in the minced garlic. Heat on medium heat until the garlic is sizzling, once it begins to sizzle remove the pan from the heat and allow it to rest until the dough is done rising. Grate the parmesan cheese.

Once your dough has risen for the second time. PreHeat the oven to 400 degrees.

Then top the dough by drizzling the garlic oil over the top. I use a spoon to scoop out the garlic and oil so I can disperse the minced garlic over the entire pan of dough. Then sprinkle on the grated parmesan and garnish with the coarse salt.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until the edges and top are lightly golden. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then slide the bread out of the pan and slice.

This bread is the most amazing side dish for soup - check out our Butternut Squash & Cider Soup in our Cookbook, or use the left overs to make the tastiest sandwiches, it’s delicious with Brunch and I know you’ll make your first batch and think you should make this every week!

Happy Baking and filling your table with delicious food and even better company.

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