Read on to learn how to make ciabatta bread.
How to Make Ciabatta Bread
This was the weekend we’ve been waiting for, since about September. This is the weekend when the pier went in the water, the weekend we tooled around in shorts, the weekend we cleaned some perennial beds. This was the weekend spring finally decided to show up. I say, “Welcome, and better late than never!”
Our great friends, Jeff and Mandi decided to pay us a visit at the cottage this weekend. Making the trek from Green Bay, about an hour north of us, we made the decision to have dinner in and therefore spent a good portion of Saturday putting together some good stuff.
The cottage windows were open and so through them I could hear the boys, outside. There was some lakefront raking going on, the fire pit was alive with burning lawn debris, and poles had been placed in the water, hopelessly early to catch for any fish but our boys were determined to get their outdoor cottage on, and I wasn’t able to blame them even a tiny bit.
The steady breeze coming in from the outdoors was beyond refreshing this of course also added to the mellow energy of the day. George Jones, who the world had lost just one day earlier, crooned throughout, and Ellie our English bull dog spent much of the day snoring gently on her bed. This Saturday proved to be a grand entry for the better weather and that is exactly for what we had been pining.
How to Make Ciabatta Bread on Platter Talk Food Blog
Our dinner turned out very nicely, although I only did this Ciabatta bread and the caesar salad, along with new and creamier version of humus, Scott undertook the lion’s share of the cooking and made it seem effortless with delicious results.
We spent the evening catching up, laughing, and ultimately sitting around the big bonfire in front of the moonlit lake. We were friends enjoying a rare stogie together, good wine, and most of all great conversation. This was how Saturday nights were meant to be.
This recipe is one I’ve used before. I’m not an acclaimed bread maker, in fact I consider it one of my most prominent culinary weaknesses. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a master bread smith to learn how to make ciabatta bread. We served it with some 25 year old balsamic vinegar and thus it made a great side for a fantastic evening.
There’s no need to be a master baker for this easy Italian standard. Try making this one soon and let us know what you think. We love hearing form our readers and your comments always mean the world to us. -Dan
See all of our Italian Food Recipes Here!
Ingredients
for sponge
- 1/8 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons warm water 105°‐115° F.
- 1/3 cup room-temperature water
- 1 cup bread flour
for bread
- 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons warm milk 105°‐115° F.
- 2/3 cup room-temperature water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1 1/2 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 1/2 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 1/2 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.
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!