Easy Ciabatta Bread Recipe
This no-knead ciabatta bread is one of the easiest bread recipes and only requires one bowl, which means easy clean up.
The dough for ciabatta bread is extremely wet compared to other bread types.
When this ciabatta bread comes out of the oven it has a nice crisp outside and a soft and chewy inside.
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Seeing all the nooks and crannies when you slice into a loaf just gives me such satisfaction.
This recipe comes out perfect every time and only requires 5 ingredients.
Start by putting 1 1/3 cup warm water, 1 teaspoon yeast (instant or active dry), and 2 tablespoons sugar into a bowl.
Stir together and let sit for 5 minutes. You should see some bubbles forming on the surface. This ensures your yeast is active.
Using a wooden spoon stir in 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Make sure to incorporate the flour hiding at the bottom of the bowl.
Once combined cover the bowl with saran wrap and place in a warm place to rise.
You will be folding the ciabatta dough every 30 minutes for a total of 2 hours combined.
After the first 30 minutes passes wet your hands. Imagine your dough is a square. Lift up one side and pull it over to the opposite side essentially folding the dough in half. Now go to an adjacent side and repeat until you have done this to all 4 sides.
Cover the dough with saran wrap and let sit for another 30 minutes.
Continue this process until you have done it 4 times.
This folding process allows for the gluten to develop and helps creates all the pockets of air.
After the dough has risen for 2 hours pour it onto a lightly floured surface.
Using your hands, gently stretch the dough into a rectangle.
Roll the dough into a log. Cut into 2 loaves.
Place loaves onto a sheet of parchment paper and let rest for an additional 20 minutes (optional).
Heat your own to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Also place an upside down baking sheet or pizza peel into the oven so it can heat up too.
Once your oven is preheated, slide the parchment paper and ciabatta loaves onto the heated baking sheet.
Sprinkle or spray water onto the loaves of bread and quickly shut the oven.
Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Then reduce your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue baking for 12-15 minutes.
Remove your bread from the oven and off the parchment paper and place on a wire rack to cool.
Here is the sliced ciabatta bread. Look at all of those delicious nooks and crannies!
CIABATTA BREAD INGREDIENTS
1 1/3 cup warm water
1 teaspoon instant/active dry yeast
2 tablespoons sugar (optional)
2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a large bowl stir together water, yeast and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes until bubbles begin to form.
2. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the all purpose flour and salt until fully combined. Cover bowl with saran wrap.
3. After 30 minutes using your wet hands, gently fold the dough in half towards you. Turn your bowl 90 degrees and do it again. Repeat with the remaining 2 sides.
4. Cover dough with saran wrap and after another 30 minutes fold the dough again like you did in step 3.
5. Repeat step 4 two more times. You will have folded the ciabatta dough 4 total times and let it rise for a grand total of 2 hours.
6. After the dough has risen pour it onto a lightly floured surface. Gently pull into a rectangle shape and roll up into a log. Cut the dough into 2 loaves. Gently shape.
7. Place loaves on parchment paper and let rest for an additional 20 minutes (optional).
8. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Place an upside down baking sheet or pizza peel into the oven to heat up.
9. Once oven is preheated, slide the parchment paper and bread loaves onto your baking sheet or peel. Sprinkle or spray bread with water and quickly shut oven door.
10. Bake bread for 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake an additional 12-15 minutes.
11. Remove bread from oven and parchment paper and let cool on wire rack.
Once your bread has cooled down enjoy it plain, with butter, or my favorite, with an olive oil herb dip like they have at restaurants.
Pour some olive oil into a bowl and add your favorite seasonings (dried Italian seasoning, basil, oregano, garlic powder, paprika, crushed red pepper, salt, pepper, etc.)
If you make the ciabatta bread let me know how it came out in the comments below!
