Ciabatta Bread

by urviashah

add to my cookbook add to shopping list

This recipe has been viewed 6674 times

Baking the perfectly leavened up ciabatta bread may require little practice but can be definitely perfected with this easy recipe. The aroma of a freshly baked ciabatta bread is incomparable to the ones available in the bakeries and hence the recipe deserves to be tried atleast once.

Add your private note

Ciabatta Bread recipe - How to make Ciabatta Bread

Tags

Preparation Time: 1 day Cooking Time: 25-30 mins Total Time: 30 mins 4
Show me for servings

Ingredients

Sponge:
1 tsp yeast
250 ml (1 cup) warm water
350 gms (1 1/2 cups) plain flour (maida) (sifted)

Dough:
1 1/2 tsp yeast
5 tbsp warm milk
1 tbsp olive oil
250 ml (1 cup) warm water
600 gms (3 cups) plain flour (maida)
2 to 3 tsp salt
2 to 3 tbsp warm water additional if needed

Method

sponge:

In a mixer bowl, add the yeast to the water, allow to stand for 3-4 minutes, stirring gently.
Sift the flour and add to the yeast. combine ingredients well, cover and let stand at room temperature for 12 hours.

dough:

Add the yeast to the milk, stir and let it stand 3-4 minutes to be sure the yeast is working.
Add the yeast mixture, water and oil to the sponge and mix with a dough hook.
Add 2 cups of flour and the salt and knead for 2 minutes at low speed, 3 minutes at middle speed, adding the remaining flour slowly, or more water, until the dough begins to pull from the sides of the bowl.
The dough should be quite soft; firm enough to handle without sticking to the hands, but still very soft. add the last of the flour slowly.
Cover or place in a large, oiled bowl and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until tripled in size and bubbly.
Place the dough on floured baking paper or other surface and divide into 4 pieces, but do not punch down.
Form in rectangles about 10” x 4”/25 x 10 cm in size and press down lightly with the fingers.
Cover the dough and let rise for 90 minutes. the dough will rise only slightly.
The flour on the surface where the bread makes its final rise is what remains on the top of the loaf after baking.
With practice you can adjust the amount to get a pleasing appearance. you can also form them into about 6 to 8 rolls.
Preheat oven to 200°c/400° f.
Heat two baking sheets in the oven for about 15 minutes.
Pick up the loaves, turn them over and lay them upside down on the sheets, being careful not to press out the air.
Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes until bread just begins to turn golden.
During the first 10 minutes, paint or spray the bread with water 3 times.