Italian Ciabatta (Classic Recipe)
I present to you a classic recipe for Italian ciabatta bread. It's typically baked in special stone ovens, but it's also possible to make it at home.
The key is to knead the dough properly and let it rest properly for 12-15 hours. Then, shape the dough and let it rest for another hour. As you can see, the process is lengthy, but the resulting bread is exquisite. Its hallmarks include a thin, crispy crust and an unevenly porous crumb. Furthermore, these recipes require minimal ingredients.
Ciabatta is served with salads and soups, and is also used to make a variety of sandwiches and bruschetta.
To prepare classic Italian ciabatta in the oven, prepare the ingredients according to the recipe list.
Sift the required amount of wheat flour into a deep, convenient mixing bowl. Add salt and instant dry yeast.
Mix thoroughly, make a well in the center and pour warm water into it.
Stir the flour mixture with a spoon. The dough should be thick and sticky. Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for 12-15 hours.
After the time has passed, the dough will rise significantly and expand in volume, with numerous air bubbles of varying sizes appearing on its surface. Our goal is to trap them.
Dust the work surface with flour and turn out the dough.
Use your hands to shape it into a rectangle and fold the long edges inward.
Fold the side pieces towards the center (as in the photo).
Cut the dough in half.
Prepare a "cradle" for the future bread: wrap cardboard rolls or long heat-resistant glass bottles in foil and arrange them along the edges and center of the baking sheet. Cover the resulting structure with parchment paper. Transfer the dough, stretching it slightly lengthwise. Dust with wheat flour, cover with a towel, and let rest for 1 hour at room temperature. Once the dough has rested, place it in an oven preheated to 220 degrees Celsius.
Bake with steam for the first 10 minutes. Place a wide tray filled with hot water on the bottom of the oven. Bake as usual for the remaining 20-25 minutes until beautifully golden brown.
When the bread is baked, transfer it to a wire rack and let cool completely.
That's it, delicious, aromatic classic Italian ciabatta is ready.
The bread has a crispy crust on top and a porous crumb inside.
Bon appetit!
