Fougasse aux Olives (Provençal Olive Bread)
A leaf-shaped Provençal bread with a crisp crust, salty green olives and herbes de Provence, made from simple dough.
Made with Pizza dough. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.32 a head
- Oven240°C (220°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 240°C (220°C fan) with a baking tray inside. Pat the olives dry on kitchen paper.
- 2
Tip your ready made pizza dough (see the base recipe) onto a floured worktop and knead in the olives and herbes de Provence for 1 minute. Divide in two.
- 3
Roll each piece into an oval about 1 cm thick. Lay on baking paper.
- 4
Cut slashes through the dough, one down the middle and 3 to 4 diagonal cuts each side, like the veins of a leaf. Pull the cuts open to make holes about 3 cm wide.
- 5
Brush with half the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt. Rest for 10 minutes.
10 min - 6
Slide onto the hot tray and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until deep golden and crisp. Brush with the remaining oil and serve warm.
17 min
Tips
- Pull the cuts wide open. They close up as the bread rises, so the holes should look too big at first.
- Dry the olives well. Wet olives stop the dough baking crisp and leave soggy patches.
- Replace the olives with chopped sundried tomatoes, rosemary or a handful of thyme.
Storing and freezing
Best the day it is baked. Keep in a paper bag for 1 day, then re-crisp in a 180C oven for 5 minutes. Freeze cooled bread for up to 2 months.
Questions
What is fougasse?
Fougasse is a Provençal flatbread shaped like a leaf or ear of wheat, with deep cuts that make it crisp and easy to tear. Olives, herbs or lardons are classic fillings.
Can I make it with another bread dough?
Yes. Any lean yeasted dough works. Pizza dough bakes well, since it is strong and holds the cut shape.
Is it vegan?
Yes. With olives, herbs and olive oil it is vegan, dairy free and egg free. It does contain wheat gluten.
More made with pizza dough
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.