As you know, focaccia is one of the most versatile ingredients you can have in your kitchen.
Whether it is served as an appetizer or complimented by a soup for lunch, no one can deny that focaccia has something to offer with every meal.
However, what do you do when you’ve made too much focaccia?
You could always freeze it for later, but you know what they say about leftover focaccia: it’s never as good when frozen.
So, what should you do with all this extra leftover focaccia?
Here are some great ideas.
Make a Panzanella salad
Turn the focaccia into breadcrumbs and add them to a salad of chopped tomatoes and cucumbers seasoned with olive oil and sea salt.
This is the perfect end-of-summer dish that’ll help use your garden’s produce while it’s still abundant before the season ends.
Add it to pasta
Toss some leftover focaccia chunks in olive oil and garlic and add them to your usual pasta dish to give it an extra crunch.
Make pizza
Everyone knows that leftover focaccia is the perfect candidate for a homemade pizza.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different toppings, like pesto and sun-dried tomatoes or ricotta cheese and arugula.
For an easy breakfast option, try coating leftover focaccia in eggs (any style) and Parmesan cheese; bake until set, cut into squares, and serve with marinara sauce on top.
Create your own croutons
Tossing pieces of leftover focaccia in olive oil will soften them up just enough to make them the perfect dippers for soups or salads.
Just remember that breadcrumbs don’t toast the same as croutons, so be aware of how long you leave them in the oven.
Make bread pudding
It might sound a little odd at first, but bread pudding is actually an amazing way to use up leftover focaccia.
The key with any bread-based pudding is to not let the bread fully absorb all the liquid.
While it’s baking, keep watch and add more milk if needed; when it comes out of the oven and has cooled enough for you to eat it, whip up some cream and add a dollop on top.
It’ll taste like dessert for breakfast.
Bake into cubes
A quick and easy way to use leftover focaccia without making too much of a mess is to cube it and bake it into croutons.
This can be done with any leftover bread, even if it’s not focaccia, so there’s no need to waste a perfectly good slice.
Add them to a soup
Who doesn’t love a nice piece of focaccia in their soup?
The best part about this idea is that you don’t have to do anything except removing the crust from the bread before eating.
The entire thing works beautifully in your bowl of soup.
How long does focaccia last in the fridge?
The focaccia should be eaten on the day it was made, otherwise, it should be stored in the fridge.
If you have leftovers, wrap them in a plastic bag and they will stay fresh for 4 days.
What is focaccia bread good with?
To me, some salads are a good choice.
Like a salad with baby greens, red onion, cucumber, sweet cherry tomatoes, and blue cheese.
This is not an overwhelming salad.
And focaccia is always good with steak as well.
Can you eat focaccia cold?
Yes, you can.
Focaccia is usually served at room temperature.
But it can also be eaten cold or toasted.
It is similar to pizza but it has more yeast in the recipe.
How do you eat readymade focaccia bread?
Some people like to put olive oil or butter in the middle of the wedges.
Others like to put their favorite sandwich fillings in there.
Things like pesto, chopped vegetables, melted cheese are good choices as well.
You can also eat focaccia with pasta, pizza ingredients, mashed potatoes, fried eggs, or soups.
How do I store focaccia?
To keep it fresh, you can wrap it in plastic wrap or keep it in an airtight container and store it at room temperature.
You will need to cut the bread into smaller pieces if you want to work with it. (source)
How do you refresh focaccia bread?
Focaccia bread can be reheated in the oven.
Preheat it to 375 degrees, then put the focaccia on a baking sheet.
Sprinkle a few drops of water on top and bake for 6 to 8 minutes until it is warm and crispy.
Can you freeze leftover focaccia?
Yes, you can freeze focaccia for up to 1 month.
If the focaccia is homemade, you can either slice it up and wrap it well before freezing it, or leave it as a whole loaf and freeze it.
Why is focaccia bread healthy?
Focaccia bread is healthy because it provides complex carbohydrates that give you energy.
It also helps regulate your blood sugar levels better.
You can make focaccia with all-purpose flour instead to provide more minerals, vitamins, and fiber. (source)
How long is homemade focaccia good for at room temperature?
Homemade focaccia can be stored at room temperature for 2 days.
How do you soften focaccia bread?
Put the bread in a towel and put it in the oven for 7-10 minutes.
Put the bread on a dish and microwave it for 8-10 seconds.
Check if necessary. (source)
Can you overproof focaccia dough?
You can overproof focaccia dough if you proof the dough for way too long.
This will make the gluten structure weak, and when you bake it, it will collapse.
What does focaccia bread taste like?
It should be warm and has a yeast flavor. (source)
Where is focaccia bread from?
Focaccia bread is a type of Italian bread.
It is made with lots of herbs and cheese, and it is very popular in Italy.
Focaccia bread can also be found in other parts of the world where Italian people have settled. (source)
Can focaccia dough be left out overnight?
No, the left-out dough is not safe.
Dough with yeast in it can spoil.
You need to store the dough in the fridge if you want to keep it safe.
Conclusion
Leftover focaccia can be used in a variety of ways, both sweet and savory.
The options are endless, so get creative.
I hope you enjoy these recipes and that they inspire you to try something new with your leftover focaccia.