Description
Rustic Italian ciabatta bread brings Mediterranean warmth to kitchen counters with signature porous texture and golden crust. Crusty exterior and airy crumb invite culinary exploration, promising authentic flavor that connects home bakers with traditional Italian baking techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups (500 grams) bread flour
- 1.5 cups (360 milliliters) warm water
- 2 teaspoons (10 grams) salt
Leavening Agent:
- 1 packet (2.25 teaspoons) active dry yeast
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
Instructions
- Awaken the yeast by combining warm water and yeast in a mixing vessel. Allow the mixture to bloom and become frothy for approximately 10 minutes.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, integrate bread flour with salt. Slowly introduce the activated yeast mixture and olive oil, blending until a cohesive, tacky dough emerges.
- Drape a moistened cloth over the dough, facilitating its initial fermentation. Let the dough expand and develop for 1-2 hours until it substantially increases in volume.
- Gently transfer the risen dough onto a generously floured work surface. With delicate handling, mold the dough into two elongated loaves, positioning them carefully on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Permit the loaves to undergo a second proofing phase, resting for 30-45 minutes. Simultaneously, calibrate the oven to 450F (230C), ensuring optimal baking temperature.
- Slide the prepared loaves into the preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, monitoring until the exterior develops a rich golden hue and tapping the bottom produces a resonant, hollow acoustic signature.
- Remove the ciabatta from the oven and allow it to cool completely. Once temperature stabilizes, slice and savor the bread’s distinctive airy, chewy texture.
Notes
- Ensure water temperature is lukewarm (around 110°F) to activate yeast without killing it.
- Use bread flour with high protein content for better gluten development and chewier texture.
- Wet hands when handling dough to prevent sticking and maintain its delicate structure.
- For gluten-free version, substitute bread flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend containing xanthan gum.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 190 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 3.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg