Focaccia for Breakfast Is a Good Idea! (2024)

Focaccia for breakfast is an ancient tradition in Liguria, where they prefer it to croissants, and where muffins are out of the question. Made with water, flour, salt, yeast and extra-virgin olive oil, when focaccia is consumed correctly and in the right amount, it’s a great alternative to breakfast pastries and commercially baked goods like sweets and cookies. “If it’s made according to tradition with simple, barely processed ingredients, it makes the morning meal healthier,” says nutritionist Valentina Schirò. “In fact, it provides carbohydrates that keep you full longer, as well as vitamins – especially B vitamins that facilitate the metabolism of fats, sugars and proteins and help produce energy – and ‘good’ fats, allies for the heart and brain health,” she explains.

Benefits for your figure and your health

Compared to toast, croissants and biscuits, focaccia has a greater satiating power. “It does not contain simple sugars like sucrose, the classic white sugar, which promotes blood glucose spikes responsible for sudden hunger pangs. Rather, focaccia provides complex carbohydrates that slowly give the body energy and help better regulate blood sugar levels,” Schirò explains. If it’s made with whole wheat flour then it’s got an extra edge. “It provides a greater amount of vitamins, minerals and fiber. The latter helps slow down the absorption of sugars and prolongs the feeling of fullness, reducing the appetite in the morning. Another advantage of focaccia is that it’s made with extra-virgin olive oil, which is full of ‘good’ fats, as opposed to lard, butter or palm oil found in commercial baked goods, which can contain hydrogenated fats and which, when consumed in excess, favor a rise in levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol, to the detriment of your figure and health,” she explains.

How to best enjoy it

The classic combination of focaccia and cappuccino is good. “Milk provides many noble proteins, complete with all the essential amino acids, which promote building lean body mass. Or you can eat it together with other protein sources such as plain yogurt or some cheese,” Schirò concludes.

Focaccia for Breakfast Is a Good Idea! (2024)

FAQs

Focaccia for Breakfast Is a Good Idea!? ›

Benefits for your figure and your health

Can you eat focaccia for breakfast? ›

I personally like to toast my bread, so you can easily do this in a frying pan. Spread a dollop of pesto onto your focaccia bread and assemble the sandy! This breakfast sandwich is a treat. I can't recommend it enough, especially for weekend brunch.

Is focaccia a healthy bread? ›

A moderate consumption of focaccia bread can be healthy. It is because complex carbs in focaccia offer the body energy slowly and help control blood sugar levels. In addition, it gains an advantage if it contains whole wheat flour.

When to eat focaccia bread? ›

But though pizza can stand in for a meal, focaccia is more of a snack, or at most an appetizer. In Italy, it's a popular walking-around food. Also, though cold pizza may have a certain raffish charm, focaccia really needs to be eaten when it's hot to be at its best.

Can you eat focaccia by itself? ›

You can eat focaccia as a side with a meal, or slice horizontally and stuff with lunchmeat, or just eat it alone fresh out of the oven. You can also reheat focaccia in the oven.

What is the best bread to eat in the morning? ›

Whole Grain Bread

Thanks to their high fiber and nutrient content, breads made with whole grains, including whole wheat, are generally the go-to healthiest breads that dietitians recommend. “Most people need more fiber in their diets, so finding high-fiber bread is often a good idea,” Dodd says.

Is it OK to eat only bread for breakfast? ›

Unfortunately no, bread alone is not good for breakfast. While it tastes delicious, your body burns through it quickly and it doesn't give you lasting energy like protein will. Pairing it with a protein source will help keep blood sugar up and keep you from crashing and snacking.

Which is healthier focaccia or sourdough? ›

Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. Sourdough also contains less gluten than other bread.

Is focaccia bread high in sugar? ›

Focaccia bread contains 20.4 grams of carbohydrates per slice, 1 gram of fiber, and 1 gram of sugar and is considered a refined carbohydrate. It is not high in sugar (only 1 gram per slice), but may raise blood sugars more rapidly due to lack of fiber.

What is the healthiest bread to eat everyday? ›

With dozens of loaves lining the shelves, here are our top picks of the healthiest bread:
  • Rye bread. ...
  • 100% wholemeal wheat bread. ...
  • Buckwheat bread. ...
  • Spelt bread. ...
  • Sourdough. ...
  • Soda bread. ...
  • Flaxseed (linseed) bread. ...
  • Porridge oat bread. Made with wheat flour, yeast, water and salt with the addition of oats or even leftover porridge.
Aug 29, 2020

What is focaccia traditionally eaten with? ›

It was used as a dipping bread, usually torn apart by hand and dipped into salty soups made from water, vinegar, and possibly olive oil (essentially what you get served at most Italian restaurants as you wait for your meal these days, minus the water component of course).

Is it OK to eat bread first thing in the morning? ›

Simple carbs present in bread can cause constipation: It can make you feel constipated and the bowel movements will be painful. So, avoid having it straight in the morning. First have something light, then you can add wheat breads in breakfast.

What do Italians eat with focaccia? ›

Antipasto Platter: Arrange an antipasto platter featuring an assortment of Italian delights such as marinated artichokes, roasted red peppers, bruschetta, and cured meats. The bold flavors and textures of the antipasto items complement the subtle herbaceousness of the focaccia.

Is focaccia eaten for breakfast? ›

In Genoa, focaccia is eaten in the morning at breakfast or during the day. It is often dipped in milk or in cappuccino at breakfast and eaten warm and wet.

Is focaccia healthier than regular bread? ›

Another advantage of focaccia is that it's made with extra-virgin olive oil, which is full of 'good' fats, as opposed to lard, butter or palm oil found in commercial baked goods, which can contain hydrogenated fats and which, when consumed in excess, favor a rise in levels of 'bad' cholesterol, to the detriment of your ...

Why is focaccia so good? ›

Focaccia is an olive oil-rich Italian bread we can't decide is better described metaphorically as a sponge or a springy mattress. It's crispy and golden on the top and bottom crusts, and inside, it has an airy crumb (meaning there are tons of air holes, big and small, that squish in the best way possible).

Can you eat focaccia the next day? ›

Focaccia is best eaten the day it's made but will last 2 to 3 days at room temperature, or up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Wrap all leftover focaccia tightly in plastic wrap or a sealed container. If you plan to store your focaccia longer than a few days, I suggest freezing it for up to 3 months.

Can you eat focaccia plain? ›

Leave the flaky salt off of some if you are intending on having leftovers as it can make the bread go a little soggy. I prefer eating focaccia plain or with oil on the day that it is made, then using it for sandwiches on the second day but you do you!

Do Italians eat brioche for breakfast? ›

The brioche is eaten almost exclusively at breakfast, while the cornetto is found everywhere, even at night. In northern Italy it's quite rare to come across bakeries or cafés that churn out hot cornettos after sunset.

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