Authentic Fougasse Bread from Provence
In southern France, in the lovely Provence region, there is an exquisite bread called fougasse. The French shape it to look like a wheat stalk or a leaf. Chef Giorgos Tsoulis shares his delicious version with you!
Ingredients
- 350 ml slightly warm water
- 5 g dry yeast
- 1 pinch sugar
- 500 g strong flour
- 1 pinch of salt
To decorate:
- sesame seeds
- black sesame seeds
- fresh rosemary
- olives thinly sliced
- sea salt
- olive oil for brushing
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the warm water, dry yeast, and sugar. Whisk gently and let it proof for about 5 minutes, until foamy.
- Meanwhile, add the flour and salt to a large bowl. Once the yeast mixture is ready, pour it into the flour.
- Knead the dough by hand for about 20 minutes, or use a stand mixer with a dough hook for about 7 minutes, until the dough is soft and elastic.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for 1½ hours, until doubled in size.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C / 390°F, using top and bottom heat.
- Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece into an oval shape, about 20 × 12 cm (8 × 5 inches).
- Using a sharp knife, make one long cut down the center of each oval, leaving about 2 cm (1 inch) from the edges. Then make 3–4 diagonal cuts on each side to create a leaf-like pattern.
- Transfer the dough to a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Gently stretch the dough with your hands so the cuts open up and become visible.
- Brush with olive oil and decorate with sesame seeds, rosemary, olives, and sea salt, or any toppings you like.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
- Let cool slightly then enjoy!
Notes
Chef's Tip: Feel free to experiment with different toppings such as spices, capers, pickles, or sun-dried tomatoes. Fougasse is very forgiving and loves creativity.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!