FAQ
Bread has the ability to complete a meal. Whether it’s a sandwich, a hearty plate of pasta or a broth-based stew, bread is there to hold it all together. However, it’s also usually the first thing to go when starting a new healthy diet. Enter our Whole Wheat Herb Focaccia Bread Recipe!
You can keep enjoying bread while you lose the weight by incorporating a healthier, homemade recipe made with whole wheat flour. Filled with the flavors of fresh herbs, olive oil and Parmesan cheese, this Italian-inspired flatbread is perfect for dipping, dunking and sandwiching on your weight loss meal plan. Grab a slice of this skinny focaccia for healthy eating made delicious!
To make this flavorful focaccia, get started by dissolving one packet of dry active yeast in warm water. Add one tablespoon of honey and set the mixture aside for about five to 10 minutes. In a large stand mixer with a dough hook or by hand, combine two cups of whole wheat flour with four tablespoons of olive oil and the yeast mixture. Knead until a smooth dough is formed.
Now that your dough is together, gather your fresh herbs. We love fresh rosemary and oregano for their Italian flair! Knead the fresh herbs into the dough, then cover it up with a towel and place it in a dark space. Let it rest until it doubles in size (about two hours). Roll out the dough into a square that’s about a half-inch thick. Place it on a greased baking dish and create multiple dimples in the dough using your fingers. Drizzle or brush more olive oil over the dough and sprinkle with more chopped fresh herbs. Cover and let the dough rise again for 30 minutes in a dark space.
Once your dough is ready for baking, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake it for 15 minutes. At the last two minutes, sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Serve with a healthy dipping sauce, as bread for a sandwich or on the side with a healthy salad.
Fun Fact: Despite being easy to make, focaccia can be a hard word to pronounce. It sounds like Foe-KAH-cha. Check out these 30 food names you’ve been saying wrong!
Focaccia isn’t the only bread that we’ve made healthier here on The Leaf Weight Loss Blog. You can find lightened-up versions of many classic recipes, such as Gluten Free Banana Bread, Irish Soda Bread and Easy-to-Make Zucchini Bread!
One serving of this healthy Whole Wheat Herb Focaccia Bread Recipe clocks in at just 129 calories per serving. If you’re on Nutrisystem, you can count it as one SmartCarb and one Extra.
Pair it with a PowerFuel to create a complete Flex snack or meal. Turn it into a pizza with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Tear off a hunk and dunk it into a Greek-yogurt based dipping sauce. Create a focaccia sandwich with grilled chicken and non-starchy veggies. Get creative and use this focaccia as a base or side for many different meals.
Serve up your freshly baked focaccia with a healthy dip recipe! It’s the perfect snack or appetizer for family dinners and holiday parties. Check out the delicious dips below:
Servings: 12
Calories per Serving: 129
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb and 1 Extra
Ingredients:
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- ¾ cup water
- 1 Tbsp. honey
- 1 packet (~2 ¼ tsp.) dry active yeast
- 5 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped (plus more for garnish)
- 1 Tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped (plus more for garnish)
- 2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
- Dissolve the yeast in warm water and add honey. Set aside for 5 to 10 minutes.
- In a large stand mixer with a dough hook or by hand, combine flour, 4 tablespoons of olive oil and the yeast mixture. Knead until a smooth dough forms.
- Knead the fresh herbs into the dough.
- Cover the dough with a towel and place it in a dark space. Let it rest until it doubles in size, about 2 hours.
- Roll out the dough into a square that's about ½-inch thick. Place it on a greased baking dish. Create multiple dimples in the dough using your fingers.
- Drizzle or brush the remaining olive oil over the dough. Sprinkle with more chopped fresh herbs. Cover and let the dough rise again for 30 minutes in a dark space.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- After the dough finishes its second rise, bake it for 15 minutes. At the last 2 minutes, sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
