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Flat Breads » Fougasse Recipe

Fougasse Recipe

Published: Jan 6, 2022 · Modified: Jan 8, 2022 by Rosemary Molloy

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This crispy slightly chewy fougasse bread is flavored with rosemary and olive oil makes a perfect snack or appetizer when paired with a dip.  The recipe makes two loaves so there’s plenty for sharing!

Fougasse on parchment paper.

I’ve always thought that the crust is the best part of the bread.  If you feel the same way, then this one's for you!  Fougasse bread (pronounced ‘foo-gass’), is a type of flatbread, originating in the South of France, that really maximizes the crust factor.  The bread is sometimes thought to be a distant cousin to Italian focaccia, but the two are quite different in that the fougasse is thinner, crispier, and chewier.

The great thing about this fougasse recipe is that it is so easy to make yet it is so visually stunning.  Presenting it at the table will be sure to impress your family and friends!  Not only is it beautiful, but it also tastes fantastic! 

It’s also great for tearing off pieces and dipping them into the sauce.  I’ve shared a recipe for a dipping sauce as well and encourage you to give it a try.

This is a yeasted dough, so you will have to allow time for the dough to rise on a couple of occasions.  Also, I used a stand mixer with the dough hook to make the kneading process easier, but you can knead the dough by hand, it will just take longer. 

fougasse with a piece in the dipping sauce.

Ingredients 

This is what you need to make 2 loaves.

  • Water – you want the water to be lukewarm, which means the water is neither hot nor cold.  I run the water over my wrist until it feels slightly warm.
  • Active dry yeast – you can find this yeast in the baking aisle of most grocery stores either in small packets or glass jars.
  • All-purpose bread or bread flour – look for bread that is at least 11% protein
  • Salt
  • Olive Oil
  • Fresh rosemary

If you want to make the herbaceous dipping sauce, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • Dried herbs – basil, thyme, and oregano
  • Salt and pepper (or hot pepper flakes)
  • Garlic
  • Olive oil
  • Lemon juice
  • Freshly grated parmesan cheese

How to Make Fougasse Bread

Start by adding lukewarm water to the mixing bowl of the stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast over the top and let it sit for 10 minutes.  This time will allow the yeast to wake up.  Stir to combine.

Flour added to the yeast mixture.

Next, add the flour and salt, and using the dough hook, knead the dough on speed #1 for one minute, (you want to start slow, so you don’t end up with flour everywhere!), then increase the speed to #2 and knead the dough for 7 minutes.  Now you can add the chopped rosemary and olive oil and knead for a final minute.

kneading the ingredients in a silver bowl.

At this stage, the dough will be slightly sticky.  Tip it out of the bowl onto a flat floured surface and knead it into a ball. 

Kneading the dough to form a compact dough ball.

Lightly dust the top of the ball with flour and place it into a bowl to rise.  Cover the bowl with a clean towel or plastic wrap and place it in a warm draft-free area, (beside the stove, or in a kitchen cupboard are both good options), until doubled in size.  This usually takes 1 – 1 ½ hours.

Dough before and after rising.

Once the dough has risen, lightly brush 2 cookie sheets with olive oil, cover with parchment paper and brush the paper with more olive oil.  

the oiled cookie sheet.

Remove the dough from the bowl and place it on a lightly floured flat surface.  Divide it in two and shape one into a rectangle and another into an oval shape and place each one on a separate cookie sheet.  Brush the bread well with olive oil, cover, and let it rest for 20 minutes.

Dough rolled on a cookie sheet.

With a sharp knife, make cuts into the dough to form the pattern.  Cover the bread with a clean towel and let it rise again in a warm draft-free area for another hour.

Dough before and after rising.
Fougasse before and after rising.

Now you’re ready to bake your bread!  Sprinkle over some rock salt and bake the fougasse for 15 – 20 minutes.  Transfer it immediately to a wire rack to cool.

This bread tastes great eaten warm out of the oven or when it has cooled.

Fougasse after baking.

Tips for making this recipe

  • To make the dip, add all the ingredients into a jar, put on the lid, and give it a shake.
  • You can shape the dough directly onto pieces of parchment paper (not oiled) to make it easier to transfer them to the oiled cookie sheets.  The pieces should slide off the paper easily onto the oiled sheet.
  • The bread is best when eaten on the day it’s baked but will be ok the next day too.

Flavour Variations

You can get creative with the flavours you choose to add to your fougasse bread recipe.  Try any of the following or come up with your own!

  • Sprinkle over flavored salt before baking
  • Toss on some mixed herbs such as thyme or herbs de Provence
  • Sprinkle cheese over the top of the bread after brushing it with olive oil (grated parmesan or gruyere would make great options)
  • Knead in a handful of chopped olives 
Fougasses one on top of the other.

This French fougasse bread looks beautiful and tastes wonderful.  I hope you enjoy making it for your family and friends!

More Specialty Bread Recipes

  • Simple Yogurt Brioche Bread
  • Homemade Classic Croissant
  • Blueberry Braided Sweet Bread
Fougasses one on top of the other.
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Easy Fougasse Bread Recipe

This crispy fougasse bread flavored with rosemary and olive oil makes a perfect snack or appetizer when paired with a dip. 
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Rising Time3 hrs
Total Time3 hrs 30 mins
Prevent your screen from going dark
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: French
Keyword: fougasse bread, fougasse bread recipe, fougasse recipe, french fougasse bread
Servings: 2 loaves
Calories: 1440kcal
Author: Rosemary Molloy

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup + 1½ - 2 tablespoons water (lukewarm) (200 grams)
  • 1¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
  • 2½ cups all purpose or bread flour (at least 11% protein) (320 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary (finely chopped)

EXTRAS

  • ½ cup olive oil (divided - more if necessary) (112 grams)

DIPPING SAUCE (OPTIONAL)

  • 1-2 teaspoons dried basil
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1-2 dashes black pepper or hot pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2-3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • ¼ cup olive oil (56 grams)
  • ¼ teaspoon lemon juice
  • ½-1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese (optional)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In the mixing bowl add the water and sprinkle the yeast on top, let sit 10 minutes, stir to combine.
  • Add the flour and salt knead on speed #1 for 1 minute then increase to #2 and knead for 7 minutes, add the olive oil and chopped rosemary and knead to combine, approximately 1 minute.
  • Move the dough (it will be a bit sticky) to a lightly floured flat surface and knead into a dough ball, lightly flour the top of the dough and place in a bowl, cover and let rise in a warm draft free area for approximately 1 1½ hours or until doubled.
  • Lightly brush 2 cookie sheets with olive oil, then cover with parchment paper, brush with more olive oil (3-4 tablespoons)
  • Divide the dough on a lightly floured flat surface and shape one into a rectangle and another into a oval shape (about 12x7 inches / 31x19 cm) place each on the prepared cookies sheets and again brush the bread well with olive oil (2-3 tablespoons each), cover and let rest 20 minutes.
  • With a sharp knife make cuts into the dough (see photos), cover with a clean towel and let rise in a warm draft free area for approximately 1 hour.
  • Pre-heat oven to 425F (215C).
  • Sprinkle the bread with some rock salt and bake for approximately 15-20 minutes. Move immediately to a wire rack to cool or eat warm. Serve with the dipping sauce if desired. Enjoy!

DIPPING SAUCE

  • In a small bowl mix the basil, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper. Add the garlic, olive oil and lemon juice, combine, stirring or shake in a jar. Stir in some parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

The bread is best served the day it is baked but it will last if placed in an airtight bag for 1-2 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 1440kcal | Carbohydrates: 118g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 99g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 70g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 1197mg | Potassium: 261mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 29IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 3mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pam Fish says

    April 25, 2022 at 6:38 am

    Have you tried making this Fougasse using your sourdough discard? Is it possible?

    Reply
    • Rosemary Molloy says

      April 26, 2022 at 3:04 pm

      Hi Pam, I haven't tried it with sourdough yet but I am in the process of giving it a try. I will let you know and post it, hopefully very soon. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Lisa says

    January 08, 2022 at 3:14 pm

    What is the oven temperature used to bake this bread?

    Reply
    • Rosemary Molloy says

      January 08, 2022 at 3:20 pm

      Hi Lisa, sorry about that 425F (215C), I have added it to the recipe card. Happy New Year.

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        January 08, 2022 at 3:26 pm

        Thank you! I’m looking forward to making this today! Happy New Year!!

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Welcome, I am here to share everything from yeast bread to sweet bread and everything in between. If you are new to bread making or you have been baking for a while I hope you enjoy the recipes and don’t forget to let me know what you think of them.
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