Description
Quick & Easy Ciabatta Bread is a simple recipe that requires no extensive kneading. Enjoy bakery-quality bread in less than four hours.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 3/4 cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine the flour, yeast and sugar in a large bowl. Use a whisk to be sure the ingredients are well disbursed. Add the water, oil and salt. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon or danish dough whisk. When necessary, use your lightly oiled hands to knead the dough just until it comes together. Don’t be concerned if the dough isn’t smooth. That’s normal. Cover and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- After the initial rest, do a round of stretch and folds, let it rest 30 minutes, repeat, let it rest 30 minutes then repeat one last time. After the third round of stretch and folds, cover and let the dough rise until a little more than doubled in volume. It should take about one-and-half hours. It all depends on how warm your environment is.
- When your dough is almost ready, preheat your oven to 425℉. Position one rack at the very bottom of the oven and the other in the middle of the oven. Place a rimmed metal tray or pan on the bottom rack and allow it to preheat for at least 30 minutes. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Carefully remove the dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Do your best not to deflate the dough as you shape it into a 12-inch square. Do not use a rolling pin. Gently pull on the edges until you achieve the desired shape. Divide the square right down the center to create two loaves. While trying to maintain the shape of the loaves, carefully move them onto your prepared pan. It can be helpful to use several flat-edged spatulas for the transfer of each loaf.
- Sprinkle the surface of the loaves with a touch of flour. Place the baking sheet in the oven on the middle rack. Add 2 cups of water to the tray on the bottom rack. Immediately close the oven door to trap in the steam. Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown. If you like your crust to be extra crispy, remove the water tray after the first 20 minutes. Allow to cool a bit before slicing.
Notes
- Ensure your water is warm, not hot.
- Use a kitchen scale for precise measurements.
- Store leftover bread in a paper bag.
- Prep Time: 90 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breads
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: ciabatta, bread, easy recipe, baking