Focaccia is a flat, oven-baked bread similar in texture to pizza dough. Yet although focaccia and pizza are both made with flour, oil, water, salt and yeast, there are differences between the two foods which Hugo Chetcuti’s team of pizzaiolos discuss in today’s blog.
Round 1: Dough
First of all, focaccia is made with extra baker’s yeast, which causes the dough to rise higher than that of pizza, for which less yeast is used. Moreover, bakers also puncture focaccia to preserve moisture in the bread. The thicker dough also gives the baked focaccia the capacity to absorb a large amount of olive oil, which is typically spread on top of the dough just before baking. The oil is then absorbed into the bottom crust, giving it its characteristic crunch and flavour.
Round 2: Toppings
Pizza is topped with tomato sauce and cheese, which is addedbeforebaking in order for it to melt. There are a variety of traditional toppings that can be added to pizza, such as ham and boiled egg, but more recently there has been a rise in the gourmet pizza trend which boasts toppings in the likes of pumpkin cream, candied walnuts, oyster mushrooms and pears.
Since focaccia, on the other hand, is usually served as bread to accompany a meal, it is usually seasoned only with olive oil, salt, and herbs. However, focaccia is a truly versatile bread and – especially if eaten as a starter or main – may be topped with more ingredients such as parma ham and tomatoes. Unlike pizza, though, the cheese is added onafterbaking and is therefore not served melted.
The focaccias available at Hugo’s Pizza & Pasta are topped with delicious ingredients like Parma ham, cherry tomatoes, caviar, pistachios, smoked salmon, goat cream cheese, rucola and parmesan – guaranteed to make your mouth water. Our skilled pizzaiolos and chefs use only fresh, high-quality ingredients on both the pizzas and focaccias which are baked to divine perfection!
Come to Hugo’s Pizza & Pasta and experience Hugo Chetcuti’s love for Italian cuisine first-hand… just arrive hungry!
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FAQs
However, focaccia is a truly versatile bread and – especially if eaten as a starter or main – may be topped with more ingredients such as parma ham and tomatoes. Unlike pizza, though, the cheese is added on after baking and is therefore not served melted.
What is the difference between pizza and focaccia? ›
Pizza vs Focaccia
Focaccias use more yeast, which gives it a lighter, fluffier texture than a traditional pizza dough and is more closely resembles leavened bread. Focaccia dough is also usually punctured, which helps the bread to retain more of its moisture compared to pizza dough.
What's the difference between focaccia and Roman pizza? ›
Like focaccia, pizza al taglio is rectangular and works with a wide variety of toppings. Unlike focaccia bread, Roman-style pizza does not proof in the tray it is baked in, making for a crispy, airy crust, as opposed to a spongy, tall one.
What distinguishes focaccia? ›
Focaccia is a type of Italian bread made with yeast and a strong, high-gluten flour (like bread flour) and baked in flat sheet pans. Unlike pizza dough, it's left to rise after being rolled out before going in the oven.
What's the difference between pizza dough and Italian bread dough? ›
The main difference is that pizza dough is often made with a higher protein flour (bread flour is perfect). Bread dough can also be made with bread flour (of course) but some types of bread dough are better made with a lower protein flour like all purpose flour.
What is the difference between Sicilian pizza and focaccia? ›
Is focaccia the same as Sicilian pizza? Sicilian pizza is similar to focaccia but focaccia has more yeast added to the dough and therefore it has more of a rise.
What is special about focaccia bread? ›
As mentioned above, focaccia bread is different from pizza dough because of the amount of yeast in the dough. That causes it to rise and become airy and puffy in the oven—it's typically about a half to one-inch-thick.
Is focaccia a cousin of pizza? ›
Focaccia is a pan-shaped, risen bread that often has a sprinkling of herbs and cheese baked into it. Pizza is toppings on some sort of unleaven crust. Pizza without toppings is something between pie crust and pita bread. Focaccia is its own type of bread, basically.
What's the difference between pizza Bianca and focaccia? ›
If you actually take a look at how the suckers are made, you'd notice an even bigger difference: While focaccia are baked in a pan, pizza bianca are baked directly on the floor of the oven, much like a neapolitan pizza.
Why do Italians eat focaccia? ›
But though pizza can stand in for a meal, focaccia is more of a snack, or at most an appetizer. In Italy, it's a popular walking-around food. Also, though cold pizza may have a certain raffish charm, focaccia really needs to be eaten when it's hot to be at its best.
Like croissants and brioche buns, focaccia is high in calories and fat. Most people aren't aware of it, but it contains a lot of olive oil, which in excess has the same effect. To lose weight, people should choose whole-grain or rye bread, which has more fibre and is lower in fat and calories.
What are the characteristics of a good focaccia? ›
Focaccia is an olive oil-rich Italian bread we can't decide is better described metaphorically as a sponge or a springy mattress. It's crispy and golden on the top and bottom crusts, and inside, it has an airy crumb (meaning there are tons of air holes, big and small, that squish in the best way possible).
How would you describe the taste of focaccia? ›
We scoured the internet and found that nobody has described the flavour of focaccia to any level of detail. After much head-scratching, our best effort so far is 'chewy and mildly salty with a nutty edge, a hint of fresh olive oil, and a distinct floury scent'.
What Italian bread is similar to pizza? ›
Focaccia is another Italian bread that has exploded in popularity. It is a relative of pizza, that is oven baked and flat in shape. It is often seasoned with rosemary, sage, and sea salt before baking, and used in sandwiches like the panini.
What is the Italian name for pizza bread? ›
Focaccia (UK: /fəˈkætʃə/ fə-KATCH-ə, US: /foʊˈkɑːtʃ(i)ə/ foh-KAH-ch(ee-)ə, Italian: [foˈkattʃa]; Ligurian: fugassa, Ligurian: [fyˈɡasːa]; Barese: fecazze, Neapolitan: [fəˈkattsə]) is a flat leavened oven-baked Italian bread. In some places, such as Rome, it is similar to a style of pizza called pizza bianca ( lit.
Which bread is best for pizza? ›
Focaccia bread is a popular Italian flatbread that makes an ideal base for pizza. Thick, hearty focaccia stands up well to heavy toppings and has lots of holes and dimples to trap melted cheese and sauce. Focaccia dough is made from bread flour, olive oil, salt, yeast, and warm water.
Is Detroit pizza just focaccia? ›
Detroit-style pizza has a thicker, chewy crust. I feel it's similar to a thinner focaccia bread, with an ultra crispy bottom. The edges are crunchy and crispy from pushing the cheese right up the edge of the metal pan it bakes in.
What is focaccia bread similar to? ›
Focaccia is an oven-baked flatbread with a similar texture to pizza dough. It's believed that the Romans invented this style of bread – but they cooked theirs on the hearth, which produces a far crispier version than modern-day offerings.
