Description
Strawberry Lemonade Sourdough Focaccia is a vibrant, tangy-sweet summer bread combining the natural tang of sourdough with fresh strawberries and bright lemon zest. Perfect as a snack, breakfast, or light dessert, this focaccia offers a unique twist with its soft crumb, crispy olive oil crust, and refreshing fruity flavors that delight your taste buds and brighten any table.
Ingredients
Sourdough & Dough Ingredients
- Active sourdough starter – 150g (well-fed and bubbly)
- All-purpose flour – 400g
- Water – 275ml (lukewarm)
- Lemon zest – Zest of 1 large lemon
- Lemon juice – 2 tbsp (freshly squeezed)
Toppings and Flavorings
- Fresh strawberries – 200g (hulled and sliced)
- Honey or sugar – 2 tbsp (honey recommended)
- Olive oil – 3 tbsp (plus extra for greasing)
- Sea salt – 1 tsp (for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Starter: Ensure your sourdough starter is active and bubbly by feeding it 6-8 hours before starting the recipe; this vitality is key to a good rise and flavor depth.
- Mix the Dough: In a large bowl, combine the sourdough starter, all-purpose flour, water, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are incorporated, forming a sticky but workable dough.
- First Rise: Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let the dough rest at room temperature for 3-4 hours to allow natural fermentation to develop flavor and structure.
- Prepare Strawberries and Honey: While the dough rises, hull and slice fresh strawberries. In a small bowl, mix honey and a splash of lemon juice to create a glaze for the fruit.
- Shape and Score: Turn the dough onto an oiled baking tray. Gently stretch it out with your fingers, then press sliced strawberries evenly across the surface. Drizzle the honey-lemon glaze and sprinkle sea salt on top. Let it rest again for 30 minutes.
- Bake to Perfection: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Bake the focaccia for 20-25 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before slicing.
Notes
- Use a well-fed and active sourdough starter for the best rise and flavor complexity.
- Handle dough gently to maintain a light and airy texture; avoid over-kneading.
- Grate lemon zest just before mixing to preserve aromatic oils and freshness.
- Do not skip olive oil; it creates the signature crispy focaccia crust and adds flavor.
- Watch baking time carefully to prevent drying out the bread or dulling the fruit flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 6-8 hours to feed starter and 3-4 hours first rise)
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of the focaccia)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: sourdough, focaccia, strawberry, lemonade, lemon zest, summer baking, sweet bread, gluten-free option, berry bread, tangy bread
