Focaccia bread, oh, that fluffy, olive oil-kissed joy from Italy, has us all wrapped around its deliciously herby fingers. It's a staple that demands top-tier sidekicks.
What to pair with it, though? That's the million-dollar question. We've all been at that dinner table, the focaccia sitting proudly, and everyone wondering, "What next?"
Our moms had some tricks up their sleeves. A simple salad or a robust soup-they knew the deal. Yet, here we are, aiming to elevate that.
We're here to spill the beans on seven killer side dishes that will make your focaccia night unforgettable. Power moves only.
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Focaccia?
Serving a side dish with focaccia bread serves two purposes.
First of all, you get a variety of flavors and secondly, it will not get boring even if you eat it every day.
You can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
You can also eat it as an appetizer, side, main or dessert.
Focaccia is a versatile dish, and it can go well with many side dishes, both veg and non-veg items.
Over the years, cooking enthusiasts have invented many variants of focaccia.
So, if you make it at home, you can choose from several recipes.
You can also buy ready-made stuff if you don't have time.
What to Serve with Focaccia? 7 BEST Side Dishes
So, it is pretty clear that you can team up focaccia with other items.
There are plenty, but we will list the 7 best side dishes for focaccia.
1 - Soup
A team of crusty bread and a warm bowl of soup can be a perfect meal any time.
Because you can create different types of soup using numerous ingredients.
You can make a veg version or a non-veg one, and you can still create something delicious.
Any version of the soup is also healthy and incredibly wonderful to have during cold weather.
Whether you choose the veg or non-veg option, make sure to cook it low and slow for hours for a perfect outcome.
Some delicious soups include instant pot minestrone soup with ham, creamy tomato and chickpea soup, instant pot wild rice soup, chicken soup, mushroom soup and tomato soup.
2 - Salad
Any type of salad is a suitable accompaniment for any dish and so also with focaccia.
Because you can make a salad with any vegetable and it doesn't take much time to make one.
Besides, green leaves and vegetables are high in nutrients and vitamins, so you get the taste and health benefits.
While you can make any salad, a version made with cherry tomatoes, olive oil and caramelized onions can work perfectly with focaccia.
Enjoy a crunchy, aromatic and delicious meal.
3 - Broccoli
A broccoli side dish is also something you can pair up with focaccia.
You can because broccoli tastes fantastic, and your meal will be even more enjoyable.
At the same time, you can cook it in several ways, and it's also relatively healthy.
You can have it briefly steamed, stir-fried or sauteed, and each type will click with your focaccia.
Whichever type you cook, you can add some herbs, salt and pepper to add that extra flavor.
If you want to sauté or stir-fry, use a little butter too, and you will have a perfect side dish to go with the flatbread.
4 - Hummus Dip
Any bread tastes good with dips, and a hummus dip can be a good side dish with focaccia bread.
You can pair up hummus dip with focaccia because they go well together, it's easy to make, and it's also a healthy option.
Besides, you need only a few ingredients to make the dip.
Though a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean favorite, hummus has gained a lot of popularity with people worldwide, and they often eat it with different types of bread.
You need chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, tahini paste and olive oil.
You can also use butter instead of olive oil.
5 - Eggs
You can always depend on good old eggs to come to your rescue, and yes, you can team an egg dish with your focaccia.
Because everyone loves eggs, they are abundantly available and delicious.
At the same time, eggs are also the perfect food since they contain almost all the nutrients that our body needs.
There are so many ways to make eggs, too, as you can make egg salad, sunny side up, scrambled eggs, omelets and much more.
Any side dish with eggs will taste amazing with focaccia, and you can have a complete meal that satisfies your hunger.
6 - Mashed Potatoes
You can make a lot of dishes with potatoes which can work well with focaccia, but nothing beats mashed potatoes.
Because the side dish is easy to prepare, it's extremely delicious, and you always have potatoes at home.
Potatoes are also healthy and, when mashed, tastes excellent with focaccia.
You can make a simple mashed potato dish with just salt and pepper, or add some chili powder, herbs and onions if you want.
Mash the potatoes thoroughly so that you have a smooth and creamy texture.
Once done, you can enjoy it with your focaccia bread whenever you want.
7 - Braised Greens
If you don't like starch in your diet, and mashed potatoes are not an option, braised greens can pair well with focaccia too.
Because they are a healthy choice, and it's not hard to make the dish too.
Braised greens are also tasty, and there are different ways to make them.
Firstly, you can make the dish only with green leafy vegetables; and secondly, you can also use other veggies and meat along with the greens.
If your meal table doesn't have any non-veg stuff, the second option can be perfect for adding some meaty texture to your food.
Along with the bread, it will taste even better.
