If you’re wondering how to make ciabatta bread, you have come to the right place. Simple and fast, it is the perfect way to get you started on your bread-making journey. As a bonus, it’s super delicious and will give you confidence that we all need when learning how to bake.
What is it?
Ciabatta is a long, float Italian bread. It can be made in many variations, but it is known for its big airy holes that fill nicely with butter, olive oil, and so many other yummy additions.
It is made from a sticky, wet dough that give is a rustic look and a special flavor.
This is perfect for dunking into homemade soups, sopping up extra spaghetti sauce on a plate, or dipping into a puddle of aged balsamic vinegar.
What’s in it?
The main ingredients for this Italian bread are flour, yeast, and olive oil. This shortlist makes it a popular choice if you’re learning how to make bread.
How to make it
This starts with a simple bread sponge which is a simple “starter.” A sponge gives the finished bread loads of flavor and helps for a beautiful crusty finish.
Allowing the bread sponge to sit and preferment is where the magic comes from. You should let it sit for a minimum of a couple of hours. I like to make the sponge the night before, seal it, then let it rest in the refrigerator overnight.
When you’re ready to bake the ciabatta, it’s just a matter of mixing the sponge with the main bread dough. Then you shape a couple of loaves and let them rise for an hour or so before baking.
There’s no need to be a master baker for this easy Italian bread. Try making this one soon and let us know what you think. We love hearing from our readers!
FAQ
Chu-baa-tah! Think of an Italian chef, opera singer, or artist when saying this. It helps!
It is suppose to be on the flat side, resembling a lady’s slipper. Thus, it’s nickname!
Yes, ciabatta freezes well. Double wrap in kitchen wrap and then with an outer covering of foil. It should last for 3 months, and beyond, in the freezer.
- Soups
- Extra-virgin oil and balsamic vinegar
- Use it to make panini
- Serve it with stew
- Make salad croutons from stale ciabatta
Recipes that use leftover bread
PS: Be sure and check out our crazy popular Homemade Crusty Bread Recipe!
📖 Recipe
How to Make Ciabatta Bread
Ingredients
for sponge
- ⅛ teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons warm water 105°‐115° F.
- ⅓ cup room-temperature water
- 1 cup bread flour
for bread
- ½ teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons warm milk 105°‐115° F.
- ⅔ cup room-temperature water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
Instructions
for sponge
- In a small bowl stir together yeast and warm water and let stand 5 minutes, or until creamy. In a bowl stir together yeast mixture, room-temperature water, and flour and stir 4 minutes. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let sponge stand at cool room temperature at least 12 hours and up to 1 day.
for bread
- In a small bowl stir together yeast and milk and let stand 5 minutes, or until creamy. In bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with dough hook blend together milk mixture, sponge, water, oil, and flour at low speed until flour is just moistened and beat dough at medium speed 3 minutes. Add salt and beat 4 minutes more. Scrape dough into an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let dough rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 ½ hours. (Dough will be sticky and full of air bubbles.)
- Have ready a rimless baking sheet and 2 well-floured 12- by 6-inch sheets parchment paper. Turn dough out onto a well-floured work surface and cut in half. Transfer each half to a parchment sheet and form into an irregular oval about 9 inches long. Dimple loaves with floured fingers and dust tops with flour. Cover loaves with a dampened kitchen towel. Let loaves rise at room temperature until almost doubled in bulk, 1 ½ to 2 hours.
- At least 45 minutes before baking ciabatta, put a baking stone or 4 to 6 unglazed “quarry” tiles (see note, above) arranged close together on oven rack in lowest position in oven and preheat oven to 425° F. Transfer 1 loaf on its parchment to baking sheet with a long side of loaf parallel to far edge of baking sheet. Line up far edge of baking sheet with far edge of stone or tiles, and tilt baking sheet to slide loaf with parchment onto back half of stone or tiles. Transfer remaining loaf to front half of stone or tiles in a similar manner. Bake ciabatta loaves 20 minutes, or until pale golden. With a large spatula transfer loaves to a rack to cool.
Notes
- Have a small bowl of water at your side when shaping the bread. This will make the sticky dough easier to handle.
- Don’t be alarmed if the bread loaves appear flat. They will rise and give you delicious results!
- Use a stand mixer to make this recipe. If you mix by hand, you’ll have the urge to add more flour in order to make the dough easier to work with. Adding too much flour will give you bread, but not ciabatta!
Michelle says
Worth every bit of the prooving time…
Delicious and surprisingly easy.. coming from.a newbie to all forms of baking…
Thank you Dan!
Michelle says
In step 3 above, the arrangement in the oven on the stone is a little confusing, sorry.. so I will attempt to make just 1 loaf of ciabatta.
Please can you say, how long can I keep the other half for of the mixture for and what do I need to do to reuse it later? Perhaps, take from the fridge 3hrs before like the crusty bread..
Tina Dawson | Love is in my Tummy says
What a lovely picture it is – food, friends and laughter around a bonfire by the lake! Throw in a full moon and it’s just idyllic! I’ve never made Ciabatta before, but considering that I haven’t baked bread in a while, I’d love for this to be my next loaf.
Lisa | Garlic & Zest says
I don’t make a lot of bread but I’m so impressed with people who do! Ciabatta is such a crusty, wonderful loaf. You’ve got me thinking I can do this!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says
Oh my gosh this looks like it has the perfect outer crunchy crust. I am not good at making bread but you make it sound easy!
Lindsay Cotter says
the fact that you have a cottage makes this bread even more cozy! haha. can we visit next?
Nayna Kanabar says
I have never made ciabatta at home, looking at your recipe has inspired me to have ago.
swathi says
Dan, this is one of the difficult bread, you made it so perfectly, I have been hesitating to make ciabatta and baguette. Love that perfect crust and crumb.
Hannah Healy says
There is nothing better than an amazing bread!
Meg | Meg is Well says
I’ve always wanted to make ciabatta so I’m glad to hear that it’s not hard, especially for people who don’t bake bread. And I lOVE dipping ciabatta in aged balsamic vinegar. That sounds like a truly lovely evening.
Anjali says
LOVE ciabatta!!! I need to make my own bread now =)
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks for the comments, I think you will enjoy this recipe for ciabatta!
Deanna says
I LOVE Cibatta bread! This looks so amazing and so good. I want to bake some up and dip into a big bowl of soup!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks, Deanna; we love ciabatta too!
Sarah says
This looks like a wonderful recipe, sure to be a staple for any comforting meal. You can’t beat homemade bread, it’s just the best!! 🙂
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
Sounds like a wonderful Saturday night. The best bread is always homemade, something so moreish about it.
Luci @ made by luci says
Sounds like a perfect day! And who could say no to freshly baked, homemade bread even if t hadn’t been perfect enough already?
Jemma says
I’ve never made my own bread before. These look very tasty.
Brian Jones says
Superb, I am determined to cook more bread this winter and ciabatta and foccacia are on the list, definitely giving this a try.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Some bread and a big plate of pasta! Italian feast!
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
There is nothing better than homemade bread!
Aish Das-Padihari says
Love the texture on the bread. Looks absolutely yum. All i need is a glass of wine.
Tina says
What a lovely loaf! I love a good ciabatta.
Geoffrey says
We love chibatta, but have never made it ourselves. We may just have to follow your recipe and see what happens
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery says
Love homemade bread – there is something so relaxing and cathartic about the process of hand-kneading dough.
Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen says
That weekend sounds like just what the doctor ordered. And yes, I love Ciabatta…and this makes me want to break out the yeast!
Melissa @ My Wife Can Cook says
I love ciabatta, but have never tried making it before. I bet it’s even better. I would love to try it!
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry says
Ciabatta is gorgeous with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, great recipe
Ella - Home Cooking Adventure says
Looking soo good, I love bread recipes and this ciabatta sounds soo good to me now:)
Dan Zehr says
Ella,
Thanks for stopping by Platter Talk! This ciabatta is acutally wonderful, give it a try and let me know how it turns out!
Laura says
I love bread and can’t wait to try this! What else was on the menu?!
Dan says
Laura,
Thanks for the comment. There was a delicious shrimp and lobster pasta dish and Caesar salad, and a lemon meringue pie. As always when there are good people present, the best part of dinner was of course the company. That being said, the eats were fabulous too!
Kat says
Beautiful!