Focaccia is a famous Italian bread that is adaptable and delicious no matter how or what it is eaten with. It is uncommon to see individuals eating focaccia on its own without any accompaniments, despite the fact that it may be eaten with a variety of side dishes.
Side dishes that go well with focaccia include steamed shellfish, sautéed broccoli, mashed potatoes, hummus dip, fried egg, vegetable salads, and vinaigrette sauces.
I don’t believe there is anybody who does not like a tasty Italian cuisine since the majority of their dishes are created with herbs and veggies.
Italians strive to use as little artificial ingredients as possible while cooking their food, and the majority of their dishes are crusty on the exterior and extremely soft and fluffy on the inside.
What Is Focaccia?
Focaccia (fo-ka-cha) is an Italian flatbread that is similar to pizza dough. This bread may be sweet or savory, and since it resembles pizza, it is sometimes called a white pizza.
Traditional focaccia dough is seasoned with olive oil before being topped with herbs and vegetables.
Focaccia comes in a variety of flavors and toppings to suit your preferences. Onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and olives are common focaccia toppings, making it a wonderful meal.
This bread may be sliced into several distinctive shapes such as circles, squares, and triangles to make it more exciting to eat.
What to Eat with Focaccia
Since focaccia is such a flexible bread, it goes well with a wide variety of side dishes and soups. It is also known as white pizza or pizza blanca since it is often eaten with several toppings, exactly like a pizza.
1. Mashed Potatoes
We should all be aware that mashed potatoes are a traditional meal that never fails to please. Mashed potatoes go with almost everything, and their creamy and smooth texture contributes to the creamy consistency.
The mashed potatoes, like the focaccia bread, are adaptable, so you can top them with whatever herbs or veggies you choose. Mashed potatoes, which absorb the flavors of other foods and sauces, would also work nicely.
Mashed potatoes make wonderful gravy containers. Due of their fragile nature, you may scoop up as much as you want without worrying about damaging the container that keeps it below.
These two meals complement one other’s textures and complement each other extremely nicely.
2. Sautéed Broccoli
Broccoli is a vegetable with a soft and crispy texture. It tastes better when covered with sweet white sauce, which gives it a creamy texture and complements focaccia bread.
There are several methods to prepare sautéed broccoli, but it is best served with focaccia bread when it has been sautéed in butter. This allows you to take benefit of its inherent crispiness.
Broccoli has a mild taste, so seasoning should not be an issue since it can be seasoned in a variety of ways, including with herbs, spices, and even garlic.
You can also combine your broccoli and mashed potatoes and serve them with your focaccia for a three-for-one meal!
3. Steamed Shell Fish
Seafood complements the focaccia well since it may be served both hot and cold. The shellfish serves as a wonderful side dish and has several health advantages, including helping you keep healthy due to its low calorie and fat content.
It is also low in sodium and rich in protein, making it suitable for those who wish to restrict their salt consumption.
If you like garlic, this is the combination to try since steamed shellfish combines extremely well with garlic, which intensifies the flavor and gives it the flavor that will make your meal worth your love.
4. Hummus Dip
Hummus is an excellent addition to any bread, and the best thing is that it is quite easy to make. Chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, tahini paste, and lemon juice are the key ingredients.
If you don’t have time to prepare fresh hummus, you may purchase a container of store-bought hummus, but homemade is always superior.
Before your main course, offer the hummus dip as a side dish, appetizer, or snack. It’s perfect for those looking for a light side dish to go with their focaccia.
5. Fried Egg
Fried eggs are a traditional American dish that works nicely with focaccia.
You can easily transform a boring focaccia meal into a delectable feast by topping it with a fried egg coated with garlic butter.
You may also serve this recipe with rice, veggies, or quinoa to round out the flavor profile; it can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or supper.
6. Vegetable Salads and Vinaigrette Dressings
This pair makes a great side dish that complements practically any meal. The nicest features about this side dish are that you can make it with whatever nutritious veggies you like and that you can prepare it ahead of time.
The vinaigrette is used to give your food a creamy texture; if you want a drier salad, use less vinaigrette; if you want it creamier, use more vinaigrette. It’s that easy!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Meat Goes Well with Focaccia?
Roasted chicken or lamb meat would complement your focaccia topped with roasted cherry tomatoes, feta, and oregano.
Is Focaccia Healthy?
Indeed, focaccia is highly nutritious since it contains carbs, which provide the body energy and help manage blood sugar levels. When cooked using whole-wheat flour, it takes on a another dimension.
What Is the Difference Between Pizza and Focaccia?
The main distinction between pizza and focaccia is that while creating pizza, minimal leavening is utilized, resulting in a flatter pizza. In contrast, more leavening is utilized in the preparation of focaccia dough, resulting in a much thicker dough.
Why Is It Called Focaccia?
It got its name from the Roman phrase Panis focacius, which means “hearth bread,” implying that it was usually cooked in embers during Roman times. Before then, the dough was made using olive oil, a tiny amount of yeast, salt, rough flour, and water.
Are Ciabatta and Focaccia the Same?
Ciabatta and focaccia are not interchangeable. The texture is the key distinction between these two. As compared to ciabatta, focaccia has a lighter, almost pizza-like consistency, while ciabatta has a thicker, chewier consistency.