A freshly baked leaf-shaped fougasse with black olives

Easy Fougasse Recipe – Leaf-Shaped Mediterranean Bread with Olives

Introduction

Fougasse is a traditional flatbread from southern France, known for its beautiful leaf shape and rustic crust.

Originally baked in wood-fired ovens, the cut patterns were designed to help the dough cook faster and more evenly.

This bread often features Mediterranean ingredients like olives and herbs, making it both flavorful and aromatic.

In this recipe, you’ll learn how to make fougasse at home with just a few simple ingredients.

The dough is easy to shape, fun to cut, and the final result is perfect alongside rich dishes like moussaka.

I made this recipe when I was looking for a bread to pair with my homemade moussaka, and I ended up falling in love with how cute and satisfying it turned out.

Ingredients

 (for 2 loaves)

  • Bread flour: 250g
  • Water: 150ml (lukewarm or room temp)
  • Dry yeast: 1 tsp (about 3g)
  • Salt: 1/2 tsp (about 3g)
  • Olive oil: 1 tbsp (about 12g)
  • Black olives (sliced or roughly chopped): about 20g
  • (Optional) Dried oregano or thyme: a pinch

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the dough

Add lukewarm water and dry yeast to a bowl. Wait five minutes, then stir in the olive oil.

Add flour, salt, herbs, and olives. Knead until smooth, about 10 minutes.

Cover and let rise at room temperature for 1 hour.

Point: A smooth dough gives the bread a chewy texture.

Step 2: Shape the dough

Divide the dough in half. Stretch into a leaf shape about 25 to 30 cm long.

Cut one vertical slit in the center, then 3 to 4 diagonal slits on each side.

Then shape the rounded tip of the leaf with a few small diagonal cuts.

Open the cuts slightly to make it look like leaf veins.

Brush with oil and add a few olives. Sprinkle with herbs and salt.

Point: Gently opening the cuts helps keep the leaf shape after baking.

Step 3: Bake

Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F).

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden and fragrant.

Point: Enjoy it warm. Fresh from the oven is the best.

Step 4: Serve

Serve as is or with extra olive oil on the side.

Pairs especially well with hearty dishes like moussaka or roasted vegetables.

Step 5: Enjoy and reflect

It looked cute, tasted great, and made me smile.

I’d make this again just for that moment.

Tips

  • If your dough feels too sticky, add a little extra flour when kneading.
  • You can mix herbs directly into the dough or sprinkle them on top.
  • Don’t skip opening the cuts—this helps the iconic leaf shape stay open during baking.
  • Try different fillings like sun-dried tomatoes, anchovies, or rosemary for variations.

Watch the Full Recipe on YouTube!

For a step-by-step video tutorial, check out my YouTube channel:

Let me know if you tried this recipe!

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