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Homemade Ciabatta Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 109 reviews

Homemade Ciabatta Bread is a rustic Italian loaf known for its light, airy crumb and crisp crust. This simple recipe uses basic ingredients like flour, yeast, water, olive oil, and salt to create perfectly chewy and flavorful bread. Ideal for sandwiches or as a side with soups and salads, this bread is shaped gently to preserve the open texture and baked until golden brown.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough Ingredients

  • 500g all-purpose flour
  • 7g active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • 400ml lukewarm water
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Instructions

  1. Mix Wet Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the lukewarm water and yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy. Add the flour, olive oil, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix with a wooden spoon or your hand until a wet, sticky dough forms.
  2. Let Rise Until Bubbly: Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm spot for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the surface is bubbly and the dough has doubled in size.
  3. Shape Gently: Flour your work surface generously. Turn the dough out carefully to avoid deflating it. Fold it gently into a rough rectangle, then transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  4. Bake: Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F). Bake the loaf for 25 to 30 minutes until the crust is golden brown and crisp. To create steam and a crusty exterior, place a pan of water in the oven during baking or spritz water inside the oven before closing.

Notes

  • Use high-protein bread flour if available for a chewier texture.
  • Ensure water is lukewarm, not hot, to activate yeast without killing it.
  • Do not overwork the dough to maintain the open crumb structure.
  • Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing to prevent a gummy interior.
  • For best results, bake with steam or spritz water into the oven to develop a crisp crust.

Keywords: Ciabatta, Homemade Bread, Italian Bread, Rustic Bread, Artisan Bread

Find it online: https://familyfavplates.com/homemade-ciabatta-bread-recipe/