This easy sourdough blueberry lemon focaccia bread has a bright, lemon flavor and is loaded with juicy, sweet blueberries. Baked using active sourdough starter, it's full of lemon zest, lemon juice, plenty of fresh blueberries for a fresh, yummy taste and finished with a sweet lemon glaze.
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Lockrem Homestead
Equipment
9 X 13 baking dish
large bowl
Danish dough whisk
citrus juicer
citrus zester
parchment paper
kitchen scale
Prevent your screen from going dark
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
100gactive sourdough starter⅓ cup
400g warm water1⅔ cups
50ggranulated sugar¼ cup
10gsalt
500gbread flour4 cups
3tbsplemon juice1 large lemon
3tsplemon zest1 large lemon
30golive oil Don't add to the dough! This is for adding to the pan.
Topping
1cupfresh blueberries
62gunsalted butter, melted¼ cup
Lemon Glaze
2-3tbsplemon juice
130gpowdered sugar1 cup
Instructions
4-6 hours before you are ready to mix the dough, feed the sourdough starter a ratio of 1:1:1, or equal parts flour, water, and starter, and allow it to come to its peak. The exact timing of when it comes to its peak will vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen and the strength of your starter.
Mix the Dough
Add 100 g (1/2 cup) active sourdough starter, 500 g (4 cups) flour, 400 g (1 2/3 cups) water, 10 g (2 tsp) salt, 3 tbsp lemon juice, 3 tbsp lemon zest, and 50 g (1/4 cup) sugar to a large bowl and combine using a Danish dough whisk until fully mixed. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest at room temperature for 30 minutes to let the flour hydrate.
Do a set of stretches and folds. Grab the side of the dough along the side of the bowl, lift it straight up, and then fold it onto itself into the middle of the dough. Rotate the bowl a quarter of a turn and repeat along the sides of the bowl for a total of 12-15 stretches. Cover the bowl and allow to rest for 30 minutes. This completes one set of stretch and folds.
Continue stretching and folding for a total of 3 sets of stretch and folds. With the addition of lemon juice and the high hydration, the dough does remain loose and somewhat sticky. This is normal! Continue on with confidence even though it doesn't look or behave like a typical dough.
Bulk Fermentation or First Rise
After the last set of stretch and folds, cover the bowl and let rest in a warm spot in the kitchen to bulk ferment, roughly 3-6 hours.(Read text above for more information on what to look for when the dough is done bulk fermenting)
Cold Ferment
Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight.
Shape and Second Rise
The next morning, prepare the pan by placing a piece of parchment paper into the bottom of the baking pan and drizzle 30 g (2 tbsp) olive oil evenly over the parchment paper.
Using a bowl scraper, turn the dough out into the pan. Rub a bit of olive oil onto your fingers and stretch and pull the dough to fit the pan.
Cover the pan with a tea towel or a bit of plastic wrap and place in a warm place for 4-5 hours. During this time, the dough will have visibly risen with plenty of air bubbles showing beneath the surface.The exact time will largely depend on the temperature of your kitchen. If your kitchen is cool, place the pan in the oven with the light on to create a warmer environment. Be sure to remove it before preheating the oven.
Dimple and Bake
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Sprinkle blueberries over the top of the dough.
Pour melted butter evenly over the top of the dough.
Press your fingertips into the dough, creating dimples across the entire pan.
Place into the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes. The focaccia is done when the top is a light golden brown and the internal temperature reads 200 degrees.
Lemon Glaze
While the bread is baking, prepare the glaze. Juice a lemon and add to a small bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice and 130 g (1 cup) powdered sugar until smooth. Use more lemon juice, if needed, to create a smooth, pourable lemon glaze.
Remove the focaccia from the pan and place onto a wire rack to cool, discarding the parchment paper.
Allow the bread to cool to room temperature before drizzling the glaze over the top of the sourdough blueberry lemon focaccia bread.
Store
Sourdough blueberry lemon focaccia bread is best the same day you bake it. If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy them within a day or two.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Stick with the recipe all the way to the end. The dough doesn't behave like a typical sourdough recipe. Between the high hydration and the added lemon juice, the dough is quite slack and never develops enough gluten to pass the window pane test. This is normal! The result is a tender, airy focaccia.