What To Serve With Focaccia Bread? 15 Best Side Dishes

Not sure what to eat with focaccia bread?

Look no further!

I’ve gathered 15 delicious side dishes that will help you whip up an irresistible meal.

Focaccia is a type of Italian flatbread, typically made from basic wheat dough.

It’s simple but irresistibly tasty and pairs super well with different dishes.

From zesty cheese spreads to hearty meat mains, these tempting sides offer various flavors to pair with the savory-sweet taste of the Italian bread.

Here I have collected some vegan options as well as ones featuring chicken and fish for animal product eaters out there.

Add creativity to your table; enjoy every bite — don’t be afraid to experiment and take it up a notch by making combinations that bring out the best in each recipe!

Why Consider Serving Sides With Focaccia Bread?

• Variety: Serving sides with focaccia bread adds variety to the meal, allowing guests to choose from a range of flavors and textures.
• Balance: Focaccia is usually served as an appetizer or side dish, so adding other sides helps balance out the meal by providing additional proteins and vegetables.
• Accompaniment: Sides can be used to accompany focaccia bread, such as dipping sauces for added flavor or salads for a light crunchy texture contrast.
• Presentation: Serving sides with focaccia makes it easier to present the food in an attractive way on the plate or platter, creating visual appeal that will draw people in before they even taste it!
• Nutrition: Adding sides provides more nutrition than just eating focaccia alone; this could include healthy options like grilled vegetables or lean proteins like chicken breast slices which are both low-calorie but still provide essential nutrients needed for a balanced diet.

What To Serve With Focaccia Bread? 15 Best Side Dishes

Focaccia bread is a delicious Italian flatbread that can be served as a side or main dish.

But what should you serve with it?

Here are fifteen great side dishes to go along with focaccia bread:

1 – Soup

Soup is an obvious choice to serve alongside focaccia, whether it’s a loaded potato soup with all the fixings, or a creamy seafood bisque.

The moisture and flavor of the soup will only make your slices of crisp oven-baked bread that much tastier.

Dip into a warm bowl full of French onion, vegetable minestrone, lentil chowder, split pea; there are so many options when it comes to picking up everything that late lunch hour comfort food craving!

2 – Salad

Toss up a salad loaded with lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, and cucumbers.

The toppings are limited only by your imagination; try arugula and radicchio for a peppery bite, roasted zucchini and bell peppers for sweetness, or crumbled feta for salty creaminess.

Drizzle on a simple balsamic vinaigrette to complete the dish.

3 – Oven Roasted Broccoli

Oven-roasted broccoli is a crunchy-tender, nutty-sweet side that can elevate any Italian meal.

Simply toss florets with olive oil, salt, and pepper before placing them in the oven to get perfectly crisp edges and tender stems.

Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of the veggie without adding extra ingredients or fat.

This makes it a fantastic accompaniment to focaccia bread as part of an easy Italian dinner!

4 – Hummus

Tahini, garlic and lemon juice create a smooth and flavorful hummus that you can spread on sandwiches or dip vegetables into.

Sometimes referred to as “Middle Eastern comfort food,” hummus is a perfect accompaniment to warm pita bread.

Just slather the creamy dip over each triangular wedge and enjoy!

You can also use it for entertaining, as part of an appetizer plate with grilled veggies or freshly-cut vegetable sticks.

5 – Extra-Creamy Scrambled Eggs

The impossibly fluffy, extra-creamy texture of these scrambled eggs is the perfect contrast to a golden, crisp focaccia bread.

The secret to making them just so? It’s all about stirring in butter and heavy cream into the egg mixture as it cooks— something that everyone at your table will thank you for!

6 – Mashed Potatoes

Give focaccia bread the perfect creamy accompaniment with a side of mashed potatoes.

You can choose to dress them up with sautéed garlic, parsley, and thyme for extra flavor.

Or stir in shredded cheese or roasted vegetables like broccoli, squash, or peppers.

Top everything off with some dill and chives for a delicious option that pairs well with any Italian dish.

7 – Braised Greens

Warm and hearty braised greens are the perfect companion to the earthy, herby flavors of a freshly-baked batch of focaccia.

Spinach, kale, or mustard greens all work great in this dish; just add them to a hot skillet with some aromatic garlic, crushed red pepper flakes for heat, and plenty of olive oil – then cook until wilted.

Serve alongside your warm focaccia slices for an easy but impressive meal.

8 – Roasted Vegetables

Roasted vegetables are a delicious and healthy way to turn an ordinary focaccia bread dish into something extraordinary.

Try adding seasonal flavors like mushrooms, bell peppers, fresh herbs, and grated cheese to garlic-rubbed focaccia for the ultimate side dish.

Just drizzle the prepped vegetables with olive oil and Italian seasonings before throwing them in the oven for 25 minutes or until tender.

9 – Grilled Whole Red Snapper (Oven Grilled)

No Italian meal is complete without a succulent main course like grilled whole red snapper.

A whole fish adds an impressive touch to the table, and this oven-grilled version of the classic Mediterranean dish can make it on your plate in no time.

Whole Red Snapper marinated in olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and rosemary bring out its unique flavor, while quickly roasting it in a preheated oven seals in natural juices and ensures even cooking.

Enjoy with slices of warm focaccia bread for a truly satisfying meal!

10 – Grilled Cheese

Tap into your inner child and serve a warm, crunchy grilled cheese sandwich with focaccia bread.

Grilled cheese has the power to evoke feelings of nostalgia, making it ideal for casual family meals or kids’ birthday parties.

Choose wisely when selecting the type of cheese you’ll use – gooey mozzarella, sharp cheddar and provolone work best here.

Don’t forget to apply some butter or olive oil on both sides of the bread before grilling in a pan.

11 – Caprese Salad with Balsamic Glaze

Caprese salad is a mainstay of Italian cuisine, and the classic combination of tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil and balsamic glaze make it the perfect accompaniment to focaccia bread.

The addition of fresh avocado slices adds a delightful creaminess to offset all the bright acidity in this dish.

Sprinkle on some freshly-chopped oregano to complete it!

12 – Roasted Red Peppers

One-bite roasted red peppers are an excellent side dish to complement your focaccia bread.

They’re easy to make and add color and flavor to any meal.

Roast them in the oven with a splash of olive oil and sprinkle with some freshly chopped basil or parsley once they’re finished roasting.

These roasted red peppers will go perfectly with focaccia bread, but can also be enjoyed on their own as a light snack.

13 – Olives

Olives are the perfect accompaniment to focaccia bread.

Toss together a few cups of assorted olives – such as mild Mediterranean kalamata, Castelvetrano, grassy Sicilian green or fruity Spanish Picholines – with some fresh herbs (basil or oregano work well), citrus segments (lemon or orange) and good extra-virgin olive oil for a flavor-packed antipasti dish that complements the deep flavors of the flatbread.

14 – Roasted Artichokes

Serve up some roasted artichokes alongside focaccia bread for a flavorful Mediterranean feast.

These succulent artichokes can be rubbed with a mixture of garlic, olive oil, oregano, and lemon zest to amplify their flavor.

Then pop them in the oven until they’re golden brown and crispy on the outside, while deliciously soft on the inside.

Toss your warm pieces with some fresh parsley and lemon juice before serving.

15 – Grilled Chicken Breast

Grilled chicken breast is a classic pairing with Focaccia bread.

The crisp exterior and juicy interior combine deliciously to make for a satiating meal.

Marinate the chicken in a combination of garlic, olive oil, and herbs for maximum flavor before grilling.

Serve it alongside some roasted vegetables or a green salad to complete the plate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, focaccia bread is a delicious and versatile side dish that can be served with a variety of different dishes.

The best side dishes to serve with focaccia bread include soup, salad, broccoli, hummus dip, eggs, mashed potatoes, braised greens, roasted vegetables, grilled fish, grilled cheese, Caprese salad, roasted red peppers, and olives.

These dishes are all easy to prepare and can be combined to create a delicious and filling meal.

With these 15 side dishes, you’ll never run out of ideas for what to serve with focaccia bread.