How to Make Ciabatta Bread
Recipe for making ciabatta bread
Ciabatta is an Italian white bread, the loaf is broad, flat and somewhat elongated. Great for sandwiches and perfect for making garlic bread.
This an easy recipe for ciabatta bread, light, crusty loaves with plenty of air pockets.
First off, you'll need to make a starter;
Ingredients;
1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1-cup water
1/8-teaspoon instant yeast
Mix these ingredients in a small bowl until well combined. Cover and let the starter rest overnight, or up to 15 hours.
Now on to making the ciabatta bread dough;
Ingredients;
starter
1-teaspoon instant yeast
1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1-1/4-teaspoons salt
1-teaspoon sugar
1-tablespoon non-fat dry milk
1/4-cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
Step 1...Place all the dough ingredients, including the starter, in the bowl of your mixer and beat at medium speed, using the flat beater, for 7 minutes, until it is very smooth and elastic; your dough will be soft. Transfer the ciabatta bread dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover and allow to rise for 2 to 2-1/2 hours, punch down to deflate the dough one time half way through the rising time. Recover and continue with the rise.
Step 2...Lightly grease a 18 x 13 inch baking sheet or a similar large pan. Handling the dough very gently, divide it in half. Stretch it into a log about 10 inches long and place it on the baking sheet. Flatten the log with your fingers until it is about 4 inches wide. Repeat with the remaining dough. Lightly cover the ciabatta loaves with heavily oiled plastic wrap and let it rise for 1 hour.
Step 3...Oil your fingers, and gently poke holes all over the dough. Re-oil the plastic wrap, re-cover the dough and allow it to rise for another hour.
Step 4...After the ciabatta dough has gone through its last rise, uncover and spray a mist of lukewarm water on the loaves. Pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until they are golden brown.Turn off your oven, remove the ciabatta loaves from the baking sheet and return them to the oven, just put them on the rack. Prop the oven door open a couple of inches and let the bread cool completely, this will give your ciabatta bread a nice crisp crust.
Tip;
You may also make ciabatta bread dough in a bread machine programmed for the dough cycle. When the cycle ends punch down to deflate the dough, and let it stay in the machine for 1-1/2 hours. Then go to step 2.
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Comments
I love this bread but I never knew how to make it properly before, so you have done me a big favor with this recipe. Thank you.
Quite welcome Tom. I make it about two times a month. Makes great sandwiches and garlic bread.
Garlic bread, right, I had forgotten that. I am completely sold now!!
Wonderful ciabatta bread recipe. I love making homemade bread. Thanks for sharing, Lynsuz.
Thanks Sullysee. Going to link to your bread recipes.
Great recipe! Nothing like fresh bread with a meal.
My husband loves ciabatta so I'm going to have to give this a try. Thanks for the recipe. Should that be lukewarm water in step 4?
Yes, thanks for the catch.
Yum, ciabatta bread is soooo good! Thanks Lynsuz, you always have the best recipes!
Thanks Intro
excellent recipe! and thank you for the bread machine variation--for those who are fond of shortcuts!
Thank you
thanks for sharing the recipe I can't wait to try it. I bet even the garlic bread tastes pretty good,
That it does, I really like this recipe. Ciabatta bread is really one of my favorites.
Another great recipe! And I love ciabatta bread, this is a must try ASAP.
Thanks girl, hope you enjoy it.
Mm ciabatta bread. You should write an article about sourdough bread too (hint: write a new article so i can comment more and look at food pictures). :)
Great idea PensiveScholar, gonna work on that.
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