11/08/2026
Overnight Sourdough Focaccia
Soft, airy, golden and full of those delicious olive-oil-soaked pockets — and you don't even need to put it in the fridge.
Ingredients
• 500g strong white bread flour
• 375g water
• 75g active sourdough starter
• 10g sea salt
• 30g extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for the tin and topping
The night before
1. Mix the flour, water and sourdough starter until there are no dry patches. Leave to rest for 30 minutes.
2. Add the salt and 30g olive oil and mix until well incorporated.
3. Over the next 2 hours, give the dough 3–4 sets of stretch and folds, roughly every 30 minutes.
4. Generously oil a baking tin. Tip the dough into the tin with oiled hands and gently stretch it towards the corners. Don't worry if it doesn't reach them all — it will spread as it ferments.
5. Cover and leave at room temperature overnight. At around 15–20°C, it should slowly become beautifully bubbly and puffy.
The next morning
6. Check the dough. It should have expanded, look bubbly and feel soft and jiggly. If it hasn't risen much, give it another 1–2 hours somewhere warmer.
7. Drizzle generously with olive oil and gently coax the dough into the corners if needed.
8. Using your fingertips, press deep dimples all over the dough.
9. Add your toppings — rosemary, olives, tomatoes, garlic, red onion or whatever you fancy — and finish with flaky sea salt and another drizzle of olive oil.
10. Bake at 220°C (200°C fan) for 25–30 minutes, until deeply golden and crisp around the edges.
11. Leave to cool for at least 20 minutes before cutting.
And the best bit?
Focaccia freezes really well. Cut into portions once cool, wrap well and freeze for up to 2–3 months. Defrost at room temperature and refresh in a 180°C oven for 5–10 minutes.
Perfect for sharing at a summer picnic!