Content Summary
A lot of people think that making bread is difficult. But it's not! With this easy ciabatta bread recipe, anyone can make delicious, authentic Italian bread at home.
And trust me, once you've had a taste of freshly baked ciabatta bread, you'll never go back to store-bought bread again. So what are you waiting for? Let's get started!
What Is Ciabatta Bread?
Ciabatta bread is a type of Italian white bread that is made from wheat flour, water, salt, and yeast. The dough is typically very wet and sticky, which gives the bread its characteristic light and airy texture. Ciabatta bread is usually oval or oblong in shape and has a slightly flattened top.
The History Of Ciabatta Bread
Ciabatta bread originated in the Italian region of Tuscany in the early 1980s. The bread was created by two brothers, Armando and Angelo Monda, who owned a bakery in the town of Pontedera.
The brothers developed the recipe for ciabatta bread as an alternative to the traditional Tuscan loaf, which was much denser and harder.
How To Make Ciabatta Bread At Home
Now that you know all about ciabatta bread, it's time to learn how to make it at home! This easy ciabatta bread recipe only takes a few simple ingredients and a bit of elbow grease (literally - the dough is quite sticky!). So grab your apron and let's get started!
Ciabatta Bread Recipe
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup semolina flour (for dusting)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the warm water and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes until the yeast has dissolved.
- Add the flour and salt to the bowl and stir until combined.
- Slowly add in the olive oil while stirring. The dough will be very sticky.
- Cover the bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F before shaping your loaf of ciabatta bread.
- Place dough on a lightly floured surface and sprinkle with semolina flour. Using floured hands, gently stretch the dough into an oval shape.
- Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat mat.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
- Store any leftover ciabatta bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
There you have it - everything you need to know about ciabatta bread and how to make it at home!
Tips & Tricks
- If you don't have semolina flour on hand, you can use cornmeal or wheat bran.
- For a crispy crust, brush the loaf with olive oil before baking.
- Ciabatta bread is best served fresh, but if you need to reheat it, just pop it in the oven for a few minutes until warmed through.
Need more inspiration for 2 Ciabatta baking techniques? Check the below tutorial!
Homemade Ciabatta bread is one of life's simple pleasures - it's delicious, easy to make, and so much better than store-bought bread.
If you're interested in baking your own bread at home, then you'll need a stand mixer that can handle bread dough. Fortunately, we've done all the hard work for you and researched the five best stand mixers on the market. So now, all you have to do is pick one that fits your needs without spending hours researching!
Jane Vo
So grab your stand mixer, and the ingredients to give this recipe a try! I hope you enjoy this easy recipe and that it inspires you to get creative in the kitchen.
Happy baking!
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