Fougasse is the French cousin of Italian focaccia, an oval white bread seasoned with olive oil and salt cut to resemble an ear of wheat. It’s remarkably easy to make, too!
Introduction
My favourite sort of evening meal tends to be a mishmash of cuisines, using up things in my fridge and freezer and serving a spread with a wide variety of flavours and textures. A bit of Middle Eastern, some Italian, maybe some Asian, and top it off with a little bit of French. A culinary melting pot of flavours.
I make this French fougasse recipe when I want to make something easy (I am actually really quite lazy), but it is visually impressive when I’m entertaining guests. The batch photographed above is made with Italian Pomora extra virgin olive oil, and I’ve finished it with some Icelandic arctic thyme salt.
Fougasse is a staple bread from the Provence region of France, similar to Italian focaccia. It is a pretty bread to look at and tastes rather fantastic too. My kids. used to love tearing off big chunks of it and dipping it, Italian-style, in olive oil with a drizzle of Balsamic vinegar.
Ingredients required
- 500 grams strong bread flour
- 10 grams salt (plus extra, to sprinkle on top)
- 7 grams instant dried yeast (1 sachet)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (plus extra, to brush)
- 350 ml lukewarm water
How to make Fougasse dough
- Mix strong bread flour, salt and yeast in a bowl.
- Add the lukewarm water and olive oil.
- Mix with a spoon until combined.
- Turn out onto a floured surface.
- Knead for ten minutes (that’ll give you a good 2k FitBit steps!)
- Cover and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about one hour.
How to shape and bake fougasse bread
- Punch down fougasse dough and turn out onto a floured surface.
- Divide the dough into two equal pieces (or four, sometimes I make them smaller)
- Roll each half (or quarter) into an oval shape and use a rolling pin to roll it to a thickness of about one inch. Transfer the rolled dough to a piece of baking paper.
- Using a sharp knife, carefully score two cuts down the centre of the bread, and six slashes on either side, as pictured below. Leave to rise a further 20 minutes.
- Brush the fougasse with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and while still hot brush with more olive oil and sprinkle with more salt.
Tips for making fougasse
- I find it’s easier to make four smaller fougasse instead of two larger ones
- Roll your bread out on a piece of baking paper to make transferring it to the oven easier
- use a pizza steel to bake your bread. Preheat it in the oven and your bread will rise beautifully, crisp on the bottom.
- this bread freezes well, simply defrost and warm up in a hot oven for 5 minutes before serving.
Fougasse flavour variations
- sprinkle with flavoured salt – I like Saltverk’s Arctic Thyme sea salt
- red onion, gruyere & rosemary – sprinkle the dough at step 5 after shaping with sauteed red onion, gruyere cheese and chopped rosemary
- mixed herbs – simply sprinkle with your favourite chopped, dried, herbs after brushing with the olive oil. Try rosemary & thyme fougasse, or herbes de Provence
- red onion, cherry tomato & rosemary
- three cheese – sprinkle a mixture of grated Gruyere, Comte and Cantal cheese over the top of the fougasse after brushing with the olive oil
- olive fougasse – knead in a handful of chopped, pitted olives before proving the dough
Pomora Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Pomora is a small UK business that works closely with two olive oil producers in Italy – Carmello in Sicily and Antonio in Campania. As their growing regions are vastly different, so is the flavour of their oils.
The way that they work is that you adopt an olive tree from one of their two farms, and in return, you will receive olive oil and updates about how your tree is doing.
Each quarter, I receive a shipment of 3 x 250ml tins of olive oil from Antonion’s family farm. The first shipment of the year is a gorgeous olio nuovo, perfect for making a Caribbean Papaya Salad, while the second shipment is a trio of flavoured extra virgin olive oils in rosemary, lemon and chilli. Their chilli oil is my favourite. I love it drizzled on pasta with a rich tomato sauce (and plenty of cheese!). Then, in the late summer, a shipment of extra virgin olive oil arrives. This one is perfect for making fougasse. In the Winter, another trio of flavoured oils arrives in basil, garlic and white truffle flavours.
Pomora is an incredibly delicious, ethical and environmentally sustainable brand of olive oil, and I have been working with them for years. I am delighted to say their oil is now available in the USA!
Visit the Pomora website to find out more!
Recipe Difficulty Levels
Easy
Requires basic cooking skills and ingredients you most likely already have in your kitchen.
Moderate
Requires more experience, preparation and/or cooking time. You may have to source special ingredients.
Challenging
Recipes requiring more advanced skills and experience and maybe some special equipment.
Easy Fougasse Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 500 grams strong white bread flour
- 10 grams Shetland sea salt plus extra
- 7 grams fast-action dried yeast
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil plus extra, to brush
- 350 ml lukewarm water
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Equipment
Instructions
- Place 500 grams strong white bread flour, 10 grams Shetland sea salt and 7 grams fast-action dried yeast in a bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add 350 ml lukewarm water and 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, and mix with a wooden spoon until it forms a dough.
- Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes.
- Cover and leave to rise in a warm place for one hour.
- Knock back the dough, knead briefly and divide into two pieces.
- Roll each piece into an oval shape about an inch thick.
- Using a sharp knife, cut two slits down the centre of the bread, leaving about three inches between each cut.
- Cut six holes on either side of the centre cuts, and arrange into an ear of wheat shape.
- Cover and leave to rise a further 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat your oven (and your pizza steel, if using) to 220 C/ 200 C fan/ Gas 7.
- Brush each loaf with olive oil and sprinkle liberally with salt.
- Bake in the centre of the oven for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and brush on more olive oil and salt while still warm.
Video
Notes
- sprinkle with flavoured salt – I like Saltverk’s Arctic Thyme sea salt
- red onion, gruyere & rosemary – sprinkle the dough at step 5 after shaping with sauteed red onion, gruyere cheese and chopped rosemary
- mixed herbs – simply sprinkle with your favourite chopped, dried, herbs after brushing with the olive oil. Try rosemary & thyme fougasse, or herbes de Provence
- red onion, cherry tomato & rosemary
- three cheese – sprinkle a mixture of grated Gruyere, Comte and Cantal cheese over the top of the fougasse after brushing with the olive oil
- olive fougasse – knead in a handful of chopped, pitted olives before proving the dough
Review: Craft Gin Club
I loved the easy-to-follow instructions, and my first fougasse was a success. Golden brown exterior with a chewy interior that closely resembles focaccia. My family can’t wait for me to make this again.
This bread tastes amazing! We have made it with both sea salt as the topping, and with herbes de Provence. Almost as soon as I take them out of the oven, the family polishes them off. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Oh wow! I’m so glad you and your family like this recipe! Happy baking! 🙂
This Fougasse recipe is fabulous, it looks delicious and I can’t wait to make it!
Ooh it looks delicious – really simple but a great accompaniment to classic Italian dishes I think x
It looks amazing and easy to follow I love baking bread so this is one I will try
this type of baking always seems so complicated but your recipe looks like even someone like me can make it 🙂
Not had chance to try this yet, but well presented recipe – love the great photos illustrating the steps. Looking forward to following them.
I’ve not had a chance to try this yet but it looks like a great recipe which I will be attempting very soon!
Absolutely mouthwatering, I would love to try this recipe with my family
Looks like a good recipe that is easy to follow with good results that I would like to try one day
Great recipe, I’ll be trying this one out as I think my family would really enjoy it, thanks for sharing.
Yet to try this recipe, but it looks delicious! I’m not a good cook but this seems simple enough for me to handle.
Fantastic recipe, easy to follow and tasted divine
Sounds lovely. 4 out of 5. I am tempted to try it but not sure it would turn out so well for me – I am not very good at making bread.
Sounds lovely. 4 out of 5
This recipe looks amazing – I’d love to try making it for myself and I bet it tastes yummy too x
Sounds absolutely delicious. Will definitely have to give it a try.
This looks so delicious and so versatile – easy to make too! I’ve added this to my list of things to bake with the kids.
Utterly delish! I utterly ADORE Foccacia, so would love to put the French version through its paces! 🙂
I love focaccia and similar breads but have never thought to try making my own. This looks lovely
Looks delicious. I’ve never made bread before so its tempting to have ago.
I love the simplicity of this recipe, but that it looks extra special, would make a great impression at a barbecue
I’ve never made bread before and you’ve got me really inspired. this looks really delish! 5 stars
I think it’s great to discover this recipe which makes a change from focaccia.
Looks healthy and tasty I’m sure the whole family would enjoy
This looks really delicious and easy enough to do – I am trying to get the kids in to baking and we might try this next !
Looks good and easy to make, will be trying this once have ingredients
Looks delicious! I had no idea there was a French cousin to focaccia but can’t wait to try
I think the recipe is a tiny bit out of my comfort zone but the instructions are so clear and simple that I do feel comfortable taking it on. Looks really tasty too.
Just found this recipe as I was searching for artisan breads now I’ve got my new KitchenAid mixer. Bread is definitely something I want to make lots of so bookmarked to make and now entering your competition!
Easy to follow and tasty recipe! Looks great too!
I’d love to try this recipe although I am not very good at the nice presentation aspect.
This looks delicious! I’ve tried it before – it’s so simple and quick and tastes beautiful with homemade spagbol
Well worth the effort – kids love them!
I love to make small individual Fougasse when I have a dinner party as they look so attractive
This looks really tasty!
Brilliant tries it today. A real easy recipe the family loved it
In loved how easy this recipe was to follow so much so that ive even copied pasted and printed it to keep in my kitchen drawer for anytime i want to make this bread … 5 stars fantastic
How yum dose this all sound and look mm how amazing
I’m up for the challenge recipe sounds intriguing and fingers crossed will have bread with the family giving me fantastic comments
recipe looks lush, may try it myself xx
really well written recipe and beautiful pics!!
This looks absolutely gorgeous!
this is a recipe that i would like to make for my family, who are very discerning in their food, but i know this would be a favourite with them – five stars xx
I wonder if it would be nice with chopped olives in the bread too
It looks delicious, I would give it a go, and I am not an brilliant cook!
Will give this a try. I think I will try it with fresh rosemary, it is great with focaccia, so I assume it will work well with this.
5 star rating for me as the instructions are very clear even for me i might even try it
This looks like a great recipe – Fougasse is new to me but looks very tasty and would be perfect with a summer salad
Fabulous! Now that I know how easily that a Fougasse can be cooked I’ll certainly give it a try. I must say it does look tasty.
I am a huge fan of artisan bread, so this is a recipe I would love to try!
Great recipe, made it with the kids – they enjoyed the fun and the result was tasty
i love making new breadas and this is a recipe id love to try to make it sounds really delicious
I often make focaccia but I’ve never made this, it sounds delicious and I will definitely try it. Thank you!
Looks positively yummy!
I’m always a bit put off when I see yeast in a bread recipe as I expect it to be complicated, but this sounds very doable!
This is a brilliant recipe easy & straight forward very authentic I made it easily and it is delicious !
This bread looks delicious! The only issue I have is that I have to follow a gluten free diet, so I will try it out with GF flour instead to see how it turns out!
I absolutely love this recipe, I really must try it, It looks quite straightforward, I think even I could do it!
It looks like a really good and easy to follow recipe – definitely one I’ll try when I next have people over!
This looks fantastic. I love making bread but am not very adventurous and just stick to pizza dough but am very tempted to give this a go
You make it look so easy! I’ve tried to make Fougasse before but it ended up looking more like a wonky Christmas tree!
A taste like no other – pomorda oil makes the recipe outstanding – will thoroughly enjoy making this beauty vtoo
It looks both amazing and yummy, the photos really do it justice, would love to taste it
I’ve not had much look kneading bread by hand. I’ve found I get better results using my food processor.
I do love a well made focaccia, so this looks like a really interesting option to try
I’ve always been daunted by bread based products but this recipe looks very easy and delicious
sorry forgot the star rating!!
Oh these look amazing, I think i will grab the ingredients and give them a go too! Sure my children would enjoy them!
It sounds absolutely amazing! Ill definitely be giving the recipe a try, I think the rest of the family would love to try it as well!
I like the sound of it. It looks simple and something I can make with my boys
sounds really yummy and something my son would actually eat as he can be really picky
Love this recipe! I am definitely going to try it. How long does the bread last in an air tight tin?
Just two days, I’ve found. It’s best eaten the day it’s made, but if you’re going to have extra, pop them in the freezer. Defrost when you want it, and reheat in the oven for 5 minutes and it’s just like it’s been freshly baked!
I love the recipe.It reminds me the time when I used to live in Greece.I used olive oil all the time.Thank you for the chance 🙂 and for the yummy recipe
I think this recipe sounds delicious and very easy to make.
It seems pretty easy and I love making bread!
This looks delicious and not difficult to make – can’t wait to try!
This recipe sounds delicious! I’ll definitely be making this!
This would be delicious with a baked Camembert and a lovely glass of red wine
This looks amazing! I’ve recently purchased a bread maker but there are just some recipes you have to do by hand, and this looks like a fantastic place to start.
Amazing, looks delicious
The recipe sounds easy but looks like it would taste delicious and one I would try
looks really easy to make and tasty
Like any recipe there are a thousand variations but I am familiar with this one as my ex is French . The three cheeses is a beauty !
Yes Please!
I need to try this recipe- it looks great
It looks delicious and I’d like to try it.
Easy instruction adn salt to individual taste – Nice,
This looks delicious and the recipe is easy to follow. I’ve made foccaccia before but I’m going to give fougasse a try/
Looks like a great recipe, I can’t wait to try it. I love experimenting with new flavors and ingredients
This is an amazing recipe, simple to make and tastes great. I would highly recommend this!
I’ve never made focaccia but your recipe inspires me to have a go at making some
This sounds straightforward and delicious. Really like the suggested variations too, even just adding chopped olives would be great.
It looks wonderful, I can almost taste it. Unfortunately I am gluten intolerant and I just don’t see this one working with a gluten-free flour but I do wish I could eat some.
looks DELICIOUS and I will be making this for my family LOVE IT
This bread looks fantastic,& the recipe is clear without too many steps to follow. Im not a great cook,but may give this a go.
I didn’t realise that a Fougasse was so easy to make and it looks really impressive, I’d definitely use this recipe again.
This recipe sounds easy and delicious! I will definitely be making this!
The bread looks delicious. I’m not sure I have the skills to make it though. Maybe I’ll pluck up courage & try.
Delicious and straightforward. Would enjoy this with a nice simple pasta dish. There’s nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread.
This recipe is fantastic and so simple even I can make it but the Pomora Olive Oil is the magic ingredient as I have already tried it and it is the best.
Very straight recipe to follow, even I could make it. Healthy and delicious I would give 10/10
It looks like a good reciepe, simple, and not too many ingrediants. I look forward to trying out this weekend when the family come over for dinner. Wish me luck.
I like the fact that it’s a no nonsense recipe. Just good bread with olive oil
Great recipe, clear instructions with easy to follow steps. Wonderful design which looks fabulous on the table.
Brilliantly inspirational recipe.