Description
If you’ve ever wanted to bake rustic Italian bread at home, this homemade ciabatta recipe is the one to try. With just a few ingredients and some patience, you’ll create a beautiful loaf that’s crisp on the outside, airy and chewy on the inside. This recipe focuses on simple techniques that yield big results. Whether you enjoy it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, turn it into a gourmet sandwich, or use it to mop up pasta sauce, ciabatta will quickly become a staple in your kitchen.
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups (450g) bread flour
- 1 ½ cups (360ml) water, room temperature
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp active dry yeast
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Mix yeast with water and let it bloom for 5 minutes.
- Stir in flour, salt, and olive oil until a sticky dough forms.
- Knead gently with wet hands or in a mixer until just combined.
- Cover and let rise for 2 hours until doubled.
- Turn out onto a floured towel and shape gently into a rectangle.
- Let rise again for 30–45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 450°F with baking stone and steam pan inside.
- Carefully transfer dough to hot stone and bake 25–30 minutes.
- Cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Use bread flour for the best crumb structure.
- Don’t add extra flour — the dough should stay sticky.
- Add steam to the oven for a beautiful crust
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian