Homemade Ciabatta Bread Recipe
This homemade ciabatta bread recipe yields a rustic, airy Italian loaf with a crispy crust and a soft, chewy interior. Made with simple ingredients and featuring a two-stage rising process, this bread is perfect for sandwiches or serving alongside soups and salads.
- Author: Mia
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Yield: 1 medium ciabatta loaf (about 8 servings) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
For the Dough
- 3 cups (360g) all-purpose or bread flour
- 1 ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp instant yeast
- 1 cup (240ml) lukewarm water
For Greasing
- Make the Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and yeast. Add the lukewarm water and stir with a spoon or spatula until a soft, sticky dough forms. It should look rough but uniform. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap.
- First Rise (1 hour): Let the dough rise at room temperature for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size and bubbly on top.
- Fold and Rest Again (30 minutes): Lightly flour your surface and gently turn out the dough. Fold it over itself 2–3 times to create a loose rectangle. Transfer it to a floured parchment-lined baking sheet. Dust the top lightly with flour and cover loosely. Let rise for 30 more minutes.
- Preheat and Bake: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Bake the bread for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Cool and Serve: Let the ciabatta cool completely on a wire rack before slicing to preserve the texture.
Notes
- Use bread flour if you prefer a chewier texture, but all-purpose flour works well too.
- Make sure the water is lukewarm, around 100°F (38°C), to activate the yeast properly without killing it.
- Do not over-knead the dough; ciabatta dough is meant to be sticky and somewhat loose.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing to maintain the structure and texture.
- For an extra crusty bread, place a pan of water in the oven while baking to create steam.
Keywords: ciabatta bread, homemade bread, Italian bread, artisan bread, easy bread recipe