Sourdough Starter Discard Focaccia
Sourdough starter discard focaccia is a wonderfully airy Italian flatbread that puts leftover sourdough starter to delicious use. The Thermomix TM7 weighs the flour precisely, kneads the olive oil-enriched dough to silky elasticity, and the grinding function releases the full aroma of fresh rosemary before it crowns the golden crust.
About this recipe
Sourdough starter discard focaccia with the Thermomix TM7 is the smartest way to turn your leftover sourdough starter into a golden, olive oil-rich Italian flatbread. If you maintain a sourdough starter, you know the guilt of throwing away discard at every feeding — this recipe solves that problem deliciously. Searching for recipes that use sourdough discard in an all-in-one kitchen machine stops here: the TM7 weighs the all purpose flour, water, honey and starter directly in the bowl, then kneads the slack, sticky dough into a smooth elastic ball without flour-dusted hands. The result is the classic focaccia texture: crisp edges, a dimpled, extra virgin olive oil-brushed surface, airy holes, and a topping of flaky sea salt and fresh rosemary. A touch of active dry yeast guarantees a reliable rise even if your starter is tired. Perfect for a weekend brunch, an Italian-inspired dinner side, or meal prep bread for the week ahead, this focaccia makes zero-waste baking genuinely effortless and rewarding.
Preparation tips
- Cold starter straight from the fridge works perfectly here: the added honey feeds the active dry yeast, so your discard does not need to be bubbly or recently fed for the focaccia to rise beautifully.
- Dimple the dough generously with oiled fingertips just before baking and drizzle extra virgin olive oil into each dimple — this creates the pools of oil that fry the crust crisp while the crumb stays airy.
- Let the focaccia cool on a rack for at least ten minutes, then finish with flaky sea salt and rosemary while still warm so the aromatics stick; leftover slices freeze well for up to a month.
Recipe variations
- Cherry tomato and garlic variation: press halved cherry tomatoes and thin garlic slivers into the dimples before baking, and finish with basil instead of rosemary for a summery, Mediterranean take on this discard focaccia.
- Caramelised onion variation: top the risen dough with softly browned onion strips and a scattering of olives for a festive flavour; a little grated cheese added in the final minutes of baking makes it extra indulgent and kid-friendly.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Built-in precision - The TM7 scale weighs the sourdough starter, flour and water directly in the bowl, with no measuring cups to wash. [Weighing]. [Precision Control]
- Hands-free kneading - The Thermomix kneads the wet focaccia dough into a smooth elastic ball without sticky fingers. [Kneading]. [Hands-Free]
- Fresh grinding - The TM7 grinds flaky sea salt and rosemary leaves for maximum aroma on the golden crust. [Grinding]. [Multi-Function]
- Even mixing - The Thermomix blends honey, water and yeast into a uniformly activated mixture before flour is added. [Mixing]. [Multi-Function]
- Gentle heating - The TM7 warms the water to the ideal range so the active dry yeast activates quickly and reliably. [Heating]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- water
- honey
- active dry yeast
- all-purpose flour
- sourdough starter
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- flaky sea salt
- fresh rosemary, leaves only