Leek and Onion Focaccia

Leek and Onion Focaccia is a feast for the taste buds. The outstanding flavor of this homemade pizza bread is one you'll enjoy bite after delicious bite.

I originally shared this recipe in 2016. I've recently updated this post with additional information, including a recipe card complete with nutritional information, but the recipe itself (along with the photos) have remained unchanged.

**Please Note - The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making Leek and Onion Focaccia is available at the end of this post. OR you can hit the "jump to recipe" button (found above) to be taken directly to the recipe.

The ingredient list:

• canola or other neutral-flavored oil
• large leek
• sweet onions
• garlic
• salt and pepper
• beef broth
• butter
• all-purpose flour
• active dry yeast
• sugar
• dried thyme
• olive oil spray
• cornmeal
• mayonnaise
• honey
• stone-ground mustard
• ham (leftovers work great)
• mozzarella cheese

Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

• large skillet
• wooden spoon
• large mixing bowl or stand mixer with dough attachment
• measuring cups and spoons
• plastic wrap
• 3 - 9" round cake pans
• sheet pans
• cheese grater (optional)
• chef's knife (for ham, optional)
• medium mixing bowl
• instant-read thermometer

How this recipe came to be:

Many years ago I used to belong to a bread baking group called Twelve Loaves.

Every month a challenge was set, and in order to participate, you had to incorporate the required ingredients in your monthly bake.

For the month of May 2016, the required ingredient was onions, so I decided to make a Caramelized Leek and Onion Focaccia.

At the last minute, I decided to top my focaccia with some leftover ham, mozzarella cheese, and a tangy stone-ground mustard mayo sauce.

The results were delicioso!

Why this recipe works:

The combination of flavors from the leek and caramelized onions is a great compliment to the thyme-flavored dough's crunchy thickness.

If you like, you don't need to add the additional toppings of the honey mustard mayo, ham, and cheese, and you'll still have amazingly flavored focaccia.

However, if you like to guild-the-lily (as I often do), then by adding the additional toppings and turning this into a focaccia leek and onion pizza is a delicious treat that I'm sure will win you rave reviews!

How long will this recipe take from start to finish?

Approximately 2½ hours, but please note that about 2 hours of that time is for proving the dough and no work is required...except by the yeast.

How to clean leeks:

Can this focaccia be made in a sheet pan?

Yes!

Follow the recipe as written until it's time to divide the dough to place it in the cake pans.

Instead, add the olive oil and cornmeal to the bottom of a sheet pan and press the dough to form an even layer, and cover the sheet pan.

Bake in a preheated 375-degree (Fahrenheit) oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

If desired, top the leek and onion focaccia with the honey mustard sauce, ham, and mozzarella, and bake again for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted.

Can leek and onion focaccia be frozen after baking?

Yes!

Cool the focaccia completely and then wrap the slices well with plastic wrap, or store in an air-tight freezer container.

Onion and leek focaccia pizza can be frozen for up to 3 months.

The step-by-step photos for making leek and onion focaccia pizza:

• In a large skillet, sauté the leeks, onions, and garlic in canola oil over medium heat until lightly caramelized. Cool.
• Meanwhile, heat the beef broth and butter in the microwave until warm (not hot).
• In a large bowl whisk together the flour, yeast, dried thyme, sugar, salt, and pepper.
• Add the warm beef broth to the flour mixture in the stand mixer and use a dough hook until the dough forms a ball (approximately 5 minutes). (OR use a wooden spoon and some elbow grease to stir and then hand knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until a soft dough ball forms).
• Add the cooled caramelized leeks and onion mixture to the focaccia dough and knead the mixture into the dough until fully incorporated.
• Place the dough into a bowl that's been sprayed with olive oil and then lightly spray the top of the dough.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to proof for 60 minutes (in a warm draft-free place), or until doubled in size.

• Once doubled, deflate the dough and divide it into three equal portions.
• Drizzle olive oil in the bottom of three 9" cake pans and sprinkle each with cornmeal.
• Press each of the focaccia doughs evenly into the bottom of the prepared pans.
• Cover the pans lightly with plastic wrap and allow the dough to proof again for 50-60 minutes in a warm, draft-free place.
• Preheat the oven to 375-degrees (Fahrenheit) and bake the focaccia for 30-35 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
• If desired remove the focaccia from the oven and top with the honey mustard mayo sauce, chopped ham, and shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Return the focaccia to the oven and continue to bake until the cheese has melted and turned golden in color.
• Allow the focaccia to sit for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Additional yeast bread recipes:

*Whole Wheat Honey Ricotta Bread (shown below and in the featured video)

The texture and taste of this homemade Whole Wheat Honey Ricotta Bread is outstanding! And wait until you smell it baking in the oven!

*Double Crust Hawaiian Pizza (not shown)

Double Crust Hawaiian Pizza is a family meal everyone will love! The filling is sweet and savory, and the crust is out-of-this-world delicious!!

*Wild Rice and Onion Bread (shown below)

The nutty flavor and chewy texture of the Wild Rice Bread with Onions will make this bread unlike any other you’ll bake or taste. It will soon become a family favorite!

*Honey Orange Crescent Rolls (not shown)

Homemade Honey Orange crescent rolls are perfectly delicious! This buttery sweet enriched yeast dough is what dreams are made of. They’re swoon-worthy!

*Leek and Onion Focaccia (shown below) THIS IS THE PLACE!!

Below is the printable recipe card along with the exact ingredient measurements and nutritional information for making today's homemade focaccia with onions and leeks.

Printable Recipe Card

I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's delicious yeast bread focaccia recipe as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!