Fougasse is a French flatbread from Provence shaped and cut to look like a leaf or an ear of wheat. Like the French cousin of Italian focaccia, this “hearth bread” features a chewy, crusty texture and rustic savory flavor. This recipe requires making a preferment a day ahead of time (takes less than 5 minutes!), which is key for developing flavor and structure.
Like the French cousin of focaccia, fougasse is a rustic, olive oil–kissed flatbread meant for sharing, tearing, and dipping. Traditionally shaped and slashed to resemble a leaf or stalk of wheat, those signature cuts create extra crispy surface area as it bakes.
While we aren’t using the exact method you’d learn in a bread class in France, this streamlined version delivers consistent, bakery-worthy results in your home kitchen. It’s also a wonderful introduction to preferment breads—an impressive home baking project that you’ll feel proud to pull from the oven.
Turn on your favorite French café playlist, get out the olive oil, and let’s bake!
One reader, Yvonne, commented: “Intimidating, but honestly super simple and a definite crowd pleaser. I always check this website first for recipes; the explanations are so clear and I love how much I learn! This fougasse was easily the most attractive bread I’ve personally baked and definitely on the simple side, despite the number of steps. Thanks for this and all the other great recipes! ★★★★★”
Another reader, Ann, commented: “This is a delicious recipe! I’ve been curious about fougasse and was so glad that I could try it at home! I have a solid sourdough starter, so I used it in place of the biga. This is full of flavor, and I love the whole wheat in it adding texture and nuttiness! ★★★★★”
Another reader, Heather, commented: “The bread was delicious! I love trying something new and challenging. Even though this recipe takes some time, much of it is hands off and it’s well worth it. Perfect for a nice dinner! The directions were easy to follow and all the pictures were super helpful! ★★★★★”
What Is Fougasse?
Fougasse is a crusty French flatbread from Provence with a deeply savory flavor and beautifully contrasted texture. Think of it as somewhere between rustic bread crust and a thin focaccia. Here’s what makes it so special:
- Savory and aromatic: Olive oil richness with notes from herbs like rosemary or thyme.
- Crispy exterior: Thanks to its thin shaping and decorative slashes.
- Chewy interior: Especially when made with bread flour and a preferment.
- Add-ins are welcome: Fougasse is often studded with black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and/or cheese (like Gruyère or Parmesan). But even in its simplest form—olive oil, salt, and herbs—it’s deeply satisfying.
How We Tested This Recipe
This fougasse went through multiple rounds of testing to get the flavor, texture, and structure just right.
My team and I experimented with:
- Different yeast amounts
- Warm vs. room-temperature water
- Various ratios of bread flour to whole wheat flour
- Baking at both 425°F and 450°F
- Adjusting the olive oil for tenderness & flavor
Some versions turned out too dense. One was far too dry and wouldn’t even come together. Others were softer but lacked structure. The final version (below) strikes the balance we were looking for: crisp edges, a chewy interior, and enough olive oil to keep the crumb tender without losing that rustic character.
Though long and sometimes frustrating, the testing process confirmed something important: small adjustments in hydration, whole wheat percentage, and yeast make a big difference in a hearth-style bread like this.
What most fougasse recipes have in common:
- Bread flour (often with some whole wheat)
- Olive oil
- Decorative slashes before baking
Where they vary:
- Some use a preferment (like a biga or poolish), others don’t. We found the flavor improved greatly with this simple step.
- Some rely on stretch-and-folds instead of kneading—this is the method we prefer.
- Some bake on a stone for extra crispness. We use a preheated baking sheet, and both work well.
Ingredients You Need for Fougasse
- Bread Flour: While you can use all-purpose flour in this recipe, I strongly recommend using bread flour. Just like when we make olive bread, pizza bread, and asiago-crusted skillet bread, bread flour produces a stronger, chewier crumb.
- Whole Wheat Flour: Adds depth and subtle nuttiness for a hearty flavor.
- Instant or Active-Dry Yeast: You can use either. Take note that you will not use an entire standard packet of yeast.
- Salt: You just can’t make good bread without salt—it’s essential for flavor. Use regular table salt today.
- Water: Some yeasted bread recipes, like my soft dinner rolls, call for warm liquid because it helps the yeast work faster. On the other end of the spectrum, bread recipes with a long rest time, like this no-knead honey oat bread, call for cool or room-temperature water. The cooler the water, the longer the dough takes to rise and, usually, the better the bread’s flavor. (This is important because there are so few ingredients to add substantial flavor!)
- Olive Oil: A little goes in the dough, and then you’ll need more for greasing and for brushing before baking. And for dipping!
Plus, an invisible ingredient: time. The preferment, a couple strategic rests, and proper proofing after shaping all work together to develop flavor.
Overview: How to Make Fougasse
It may seem like a long process, but keep in mind that most of the time is hands-off, while the dough rests. You also have flexibility with the timing, so you can work it into your day!
Day 1: Make the preferment.
- Mix together the biga/preferment. We’re using the same preferment as ciabatta bread. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 12–24 hours. It will about double in size and be very bubbly.
This is after 24 hours:
Day 2: Make the bread.
In a large bowl, whisk the flours, yeast, and salt. Add the preferment, water, and olive oil. Stir by hand, or use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, until a shaggy dough forms.
Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead 3–5 minutes, until smooth. The dough should be slightly sticky but workable.
Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rest for 45 minutes. It’s fine if it rests a little longer.
Now we’ll build a little extra structure with one quick stretch-and-fold.
How to Stretch & Fold Sticky Dough
After the dough rests for 45 minutes, lightly grease your fingers or a silicone spatula with a bit of olive oil. Using your greased hand or spatula, lift up one side of the dough and gently stretch it up and pull it toward the opposite side of the bowl, folding it down over the dough. I like to visualize a clock on top of the dough for this. You’ll be folding it at the 12 o’clock mark and pulling it down over the 6 o’clock mark. Then, turn the bowl 90 degrees and repeat. Do this until you’ve gone around the bowl once, for a total of 4 folds:
The stretch-and-fold method is similar to kneading dough but much gentler and more precise; it’s designed to handle the dough’s stickiness without overworking it. You’re building structure and strength.
A single round of stretching and folding is enough to strengthen the dough without overcomplicating the process. When you’re done, let the dough rest for at least 45 minutes and get ready to shape.
How to Shape Fougasse
Press the dough into a rounded triangle shape, about 12 inches long and 6 inches wide at the base. Cover and rest for 30 minutes to let the gluten relax.
Using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, cut one long slash down the center (leave 1 inch at each end). Add 3–4 diagonal slashes on each side. Gently stretch the openings to create 2-inch gaps.
Rest another 30 minutes while the oven preheats to 450°F (232°C). Place a baking stone or an inverted baking sheet in the oven so it preheats as well.
Brush dough with olive oil, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt and herbs, if desired. We typically use chopped fresh rosemary. Dried Herbes de Provence is delicious, too.
Slide the parchment (with the dough) onto the preheated baking sheet. Bake about 20 minutes, until deeply golden and hollow-sounding when tapped. Cool slightly, then serve warm!
Quick Lesson: Why Use a Preferment?
Preferment, sponge, biga, poolish, levain… what’s the difference? All preferments ferment a portion of the flour, water, and yeast ahead of time to improve flavor, structure, and shelf life. It’s a small step that makes a big difference.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Sponge: A flexible, yeast-based preferment often made a few hours (or overnight) before mixing the final dough.
- Biga (what we use here): A stiffer sponge (about 50–60% hydration). It creates deeper flavor and a stronger, chewier structure. It’s perfect for breads like ciabatta and today’s fougasse.
- Poolish: Equal parts flour and water (100% hydration). Thinner and more batter-like, producing a lighter, more open crumb.
- Levain (from a sourdough starter): Naturally fermented (from wild yeast), giving sourdough bread its signature tang and chew.
For this fougasse, the biga gives us complexity and structure without making the process complicated. A little planning ahead, and your bread tastes like it came from a bakery!
We haven’t tested this recipe with a sourdough starter, so are unsure of the results. The hydration percentage of your sourdough starter may be different than the biga, so your results may vary. If you’d like to try it, replace the biga with 1 cup, or 240g, of sourdough starter. Let us know how it goes!
Homemade Fougasse
- Prep Time: 45 minutes (hands-on)
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 12 hours (includes preferment)
- Yield: one 12-inch loaf
- Category: Baking, Bread, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Description
This homemade fougasse is a rustic French flatbread with crisp, golden edges and a chewy interior. Made with a very easy biga-style preferment for enhanced flavor and structure, this hearth-style bread is brushed with olive oil and baked at high heat to create its signature crackly crust. Shaped and slashed to resemble a leaf or stalk of wheat, fougasse is as beautiful as it is delicious! This extensively tested version uses bread flour for chew, a touch of whole wheat flour for depth, and olive oil for tenderness. Serve with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, alongside soup or salad, or as part of a cheese board.
Ingredients
Biga/Preferment
- 1 cup (130g) bread flour (I use this), spooned & leveled
- 1/8 teaspoon instant or active-dry yeast
- 1/2 cup (120g/ml) room-temperature water (about 70°F (21°C))
For the Fougasse
- 1 and 1/2 cups (195g) bread flour (spooned & leveled), plus more as needed
- 1/2 cup (65g) whole wheat flour (spooned & leveled)
- 3/4 teaspoon instant or active-dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 cup (120g/ml) room-temperature water
- 2 Tablespoons (28g) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
- optional, for topping: flaky sea salt and herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, or Herbes de Provence
Instructions
- Day 1: Make the Biga/Preferment: In a medium bowl, whisk together the bread flour and yeast. Add the water and mix with a silicone spatula until combined. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 8–24 hours.
- Day 2: Make the Dough: In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, whisk together the bread flour, whole wheat flour, yeast, and salt. Add the biga, water, and olive oil. Mix until a shaggy dough forms. If you do not have a stand mixer, mix the dough together by hand with a silicone spatula.
- If using a stand mixer, knead with the dough hook on medium-low speed for 3–5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and slightly tacky. If mixing by hand, turn the dough out (all the shaggy bits!) onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3–5 minutes, until smooth. The dough should be sticky but workable. If it’s very sticky, lightly flour your hands or the dough as needed. Avoid adding too much extra flour; the dough should remain slightly tacky.
- Drizzle or brush a little olive oil around the inside of the mixing bowl you were using. Place the ball of dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides of the dough in the oil.
- 1st Dough Rest: Cover tightly and let the dough rest for 45 minutes, and up to 2 hours. (See make-ahead instructions if you want to extend this time.)
- Stretch and Fold (1 Round): Visualize a clock on top of your dough. You’ll be folding it at the 12 o’clock mark. With an olive oil-greased spatula or lightly oiled hands, lift up the dough at 12 o’clock and gently stretch it up and pull it toward the opposite side of the bowl (6 o’clock), folding it down over the dough. Turn the bowl 90 degrees and repeat. Do this until you’ve gone around the bowl once, for a total of 4 folds. Flip the dough over so it’s seam side down.
- 2nd Dough Rest: Cover tightly and let the dough rest for 45 minutes, and up to 2 hours.
- Shape the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper and use your fingers to press it into a rounded triangle or egg shape, (roughly) 12 inches long by 6 inches wide at the base.
- 3rd Dough Rest: Cover lightly and let rest for 30 minutes, and up to 2 hours.
- Cut the dough: Using a sharp knife, pizza wheel, or kitchen shears, cut the dough lengthwise down the center, stopping about 1 inch from each end. Then make 3 or 4 diagonal cuts on each side of the center cut. To create a leaf-like appearance, use your fingers to gently stretch out each cut until the holes are about 2 inches wide.
- 4th Rest: Cover lightly and let rest for 30 minutes, and up to 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). If you have a baking stone, preheat it on the center rack. Otherwise, place a large flat baking sheet, or a rimmed baking sheet upside down, on the center rack to preheat.
- Brush the fougasse with olive oil, and sprinkle with herbs and/or sea salt, if using. Carefully slide the fougasse, along with the parchment paper, onto the preheated baking stone or baking sheet.
- Bake the fougasse until golden brown, about 20 minutes. If you give the top of the bread a tap, it should sound hollow. For a more accurate test, the bread is done when an instant-read thermometer reads the internal temperature as 190–200°F (88–93°C).
- If desired, brush the warm bread with more olive oil. Serve warm with dipping oil and balsamic vinegar, alongside soup or salad, or as part of a cheese board.
- Fougasse is best the day it’s baked. Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days. If desired, reheat in a 350°F (177°C) oven, uncovered, for 5–8 minutes to crisp back up.
Notes
- Make-Ahead Instructions: There are a few ways to get ahead. First, the biga (step 1) can sit at room temperature for up to 24 hours before using. Second, after the first 45-minute dough rest in step 5 (before the stretch-and-fold), you can cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate the dough for up to 24 hours. When ready to continue, let the dough sit at room temperature for about 30–60 minutes before proceeding with the stretch-and-fold and shaping.
- Freezing Instructions: The best way to freeze this is to freeze the baked bread. Let it cool completely, then wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and refresh in a 350°F (177°C) oven, uncovered, for 5–8 minutes to crisp it back up.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Kitchen Scale | Glass Mixing Bowls | Stand Mixer | Silicone Spatula | Baking Sheet | Pastry Brush | Instant-Read Thermometer | Cooling Rack
- Flour: For absolute best flavor and chewy texture, I strongly recommend using bread flour. You can use a 1:1 substitution of all-purpose flour in a pinch with no other changes to the recipe; however, the dough may not be as strong, and may not hold shape as well.
- Whole Wheat Flour: This small amount adds depth of flavor and subtle nuttiness without making the bread dense. You can replace it with additional bread flour if needed; the texture will be slightly lighter and less hearty. I don’t recommend increasing the whole wheat flour beyond 1/2 cup, as too much can make the fougasse dry and dense.
- Yeast: You can use instant or active-dry yeast, but I highly recommend an instant (aka “rapid rise” or “quick rise”) yeast. If using active-dry yeast, there are no changes needed to the recipe. Reference my Baking with Yeast Guide for answers to common yeast FAQs.
- Optional Add-Ins: In step 2, when you mix the preferment with the dough ingredients, you can add up to 3/4 cup of chopped olives, sun-dried tomatoes, or shredded cheese. Avoid adding too much, which can weigh the bread down and affect shaping. You can also add 2 teaspoons chopped fresh herbs, or 1 teaspoon dried herbs.
- Can I Use a Sourdough Starter for This Recipe? To rely only on a sourdough starter and not yeast, I recommend looking for a specific sourdough fougasse recipe. However, if you’d like to try it, replace the biga with 1 cup (240g) of sourdough starter. Depending on the hydration percentage of your starter, results may vary.
Reader Comments and Reviews
This recipe was super easy to follow! The only part that was “hard” was the cuts. I know next time I need to stretch the slits a bit bigger, but besides that it was simple and delicious!
The bread turned out great! The hands on steps went quickly, so even though the recipe takes a long time because of the rests, it doesn’t feel like it.
The recipe was very easy to follow! The bread turned out delicious with a nice firm exterior and soft interior. I most definitely want to try making this Fougasse again but with different flavors!
What a fun and delicious bread. Thank you Sally for the monthly challenges! My family looks forward to them as much as me.
It was fun to make. And it was so pretty and taste with a cheese board!
I thought this bread was really delicious, but it was more lemon forward and the pistachio flavor was pretty mild. Still very good though, I would make it again!
This was much easier than I thought it would be. Great addition to a salad. Will definitely make again
What any easy way to get in to bread making. The dough comes together so easily and it’s all about patience after that!
This was simple and easy to follow, the only difficulty was cutting the holes but it turned out beautiful.
I thought I would be intimidated by having to make a preferment but it was super simple to do. I like that the recipe is somewhat customizable, I added roasted garlic and rosemary to mine. I think I should have heated my pan up for longer because I found that my bread was a little pale for my liking after the bake time. It was baked through but I baked a little longer to pick up more color which could have attributed to a more dense bread. The flavor is still good and recipe is easy to follow, but maybe preheat whatever pan you’re using for more time?
I finally got this done in March! My “slots” kind of closed up. I tried making sure they were wide before baking, and they still closed. I happened to see this on the British Bake-off and there were large openings. It was fun and fancy looking. Just make sure to have time for all the rises! Thanks for another great challenge!
This was such a fun recipe! I wasn’t sure what to expect but I am so glad I tried it. I ended up making a charcuterie board for my family with this as the base. It was perfect!
Beautiful, impressive looking bread that was fun to make! It could use a bit more salt in the dough to enhance the overall flavor. I served with a simple potato soup.
Very happy with this recipe. Taken some time to make but made so easy with Sally’s instructions.
My house smells divine with the smell of fresh bread straight out of the oven.
This recipe is a keeper and I will make this again it’s delicious.
Was nervous because my biga didnt bubble up like the pictures in the recipe, but it turned out fine and tasted delicious! Definitely going to make it again.
Delicious! Already made it twice. Nice bread to eat as a snack or to serve along with soup.
I am not normally a bread maker but this was so easy and turned out so good.
I enjoyed making this bread. I’m not great at shaped bread but instructions are clear.
I wish I could have posted a pic as mine is not as cute as shown. Its a pale white color I did not get a brown crust when it was at temp.
I followed recipe as written using King Arthur bread flour and a local whole wheat. My mixer struggled as it’s a low water ratio and felt like tight when working it.
If I would make it again I would do the mix ins suggested as it’s just dry and bland. I did add salt and a seasoning blend to the top which helped but flavor is not worth the effort.
I enjoyed making this bread. The recipe and the directions were super easy to follow. This bread is delicious, soft and flavorful. I tried it with a balsamic and oil dip flavored with rosemary. I also tried it with just a smear of butter. All delicious!
This is delicious! It’s tender yet has a crunchy crust. I accidentally baked it at 400 degrees instead of 450 and it still turned out just fine! It was devoured in minutes!
This recipe looks complicated, but it is really quite easy! Such a fun project to try.
First time making a bread and the recipe was so easy to follow and it came out amazing! Will definitely make again with different add ins.
Amazing recipe and really easy to do- I was surprised! I’ve already made it twice and will be making another one tomorrow and another one the following week for a gathering! I encourage everyone to try it, it looks intimidating but it’s so good and relatively easy!
So fun and easy to make! Does require some planning ahead but worth it! Delicious with a pasta meal.
Super easy recipe. Lots of small steps but not at all time consuming. Great flavors!
This was my first attempt at a biga. So easy to make and the instructions were easy to follow. It was so delicious and had a wonderful crust. I would definitely make this bread again!
I can not comment on the Homemade Fougasse bread at this time since I made the alternate challenge of Lemon Pistachio Loaf instead and it was Delicious, and it received Many Compliments from our Bowling competitors.
Delicious !! This is definitely going to made many more times
So yummy!
When I read the recipe, the amount of rests was a tiny bit worrisome, but all of the prep was very minimal. This was my first recipe with a biga and I felt very fancy. Needless to say, the timing worked out and, per the recommendation, half of it was eaten the first day. Something about the crisp crust but heavenly cloud of an interior made it hard to stop eating! Paired wonderfully with our sweet potato and carrot purée. I will definitely make it again!