Is there anything better than homemade bread!?! This Ciabatta bread is crispy on the outside and soft and airy on the inside. It is so delicious, easy to make, and amazing warm right out of the oven! It does take time as you have to start the night before, but it is totally worth it! You can pair this bread with anything! I love to serve it with a side of soup, pasta, or to make sandwiches with. My favorite is to slice it up and pair with a really good olive oil, red pepper flakes, garlic, and pepper. Yum!!
Yields: 2 Loafs Active cook time: 25 minutes Rest time: 12-15 hours
Yeast Starter Ingredients: 12 hours before you plan to make your bread
-1 cup all purpose flour
-3/4 cup water (room temperature)
-1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
Next Day Ingredients:
-2 cups all purpose flour
-3/4 cup water (room temperature
-1 1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
-extra flour for sprinkling
Next Step:
-Make your yeast starter. This needs to be done 12-15 hours before you plan to make your bread.
-Mix the water and active dry yeast in a medium size bowl. Then add the flour and mix with a spoon to remove all lumps.
-Cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and set aside for 12-15 hours.
-When you are ready to make your bread, add the water and active dry yeast to your stand mixer bowl. Mix with a spoon to combine. Then add your yeast starter and mix with a spoon to combine.
-Add the flour and salt.
-Start the stand mixer and put on low setting for 1 minute.
-Change the setting to medium speed for 3 minutes.
-Let rest for 12 minutes.
-Put mixer on medium and mix for another 3 minutes.
-Let your dough rest for another 12 minutes.
-Move your dough into a lightly oiled bowl and let rest for 45 min-1 hour to let your dough rise.
-Then gently move your dough to a well floured cutting board and sprinkle flour on top of your dough.
-Gently (with a spatula) fold the right half of the dough over the middle of the dough and then repeat on the other side. (Sprinkle with a little flour)
-Let your dough rest for 15 minutes (loosely cover with aluminum foil and try to have the aluminum foil not touch your dough)
-Repeat the process of gently folding your dough. You want to be extra careful not to press down hard because you will release the air within the dough.
-Let your dough rest another 15 minutes.
-Gently shape your dough into a rectangle and slice down the middle to form 2 baguettes.
-Sprinkle a large baking sheet with flour and gently move your dough to the baking sheet.
-Preheat oven to 475 F and let your dough rest for 20 minutes on the baking sheet.
-Bake for 24-25 minutes.
-Let your ciabatta bread rest for 15 minutes on a cooling rack.
-Slice and ENJOY!!!
*For more recipes, please visit my Instagram page @a.sprinkle.of.sweet
