Big Ole Bill's Authentic 3-Ingredient Italian Ciabatta Bread Recipe | Bread/Muffins | 30Seconds Food (2024)

This homemade ciabatta bread recipe might take a while to make, but the flavor is worth the wait! Ciabatta is an Italian bread that can be used in so many different ways. It's delicious just spread with butter or dipped in olive oil, or use it for pizza or sandwiches.

The authentic three-ingredient Italian ciabatta bread has simple ingredients: bread flour, dry yeast, water for the starter. Add bread flour, salt and water, and you're on your way to a wonderful bread dough. This will be your new favorite bread recipe!

Ciabatta bread is chewy and slightly crispy. So delicious!Don't be intimidated by baking bread. This ciabatta bread recipe is simple to make.

Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time:6+ hours
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 6 1/2 hours (approximately)
Servings: Makes 3 loaves

Ingredients

Starter

  • 2 cupsbread flour, sifted
  • 1 teaspoondry yeast (instant and regular both work)
  • 1 cupwater (between 110 and 115 degrees F)

Dough

  • 5 - 6 cupsbread flour, sifted
  • 1 1/2 teaspoonssalt
  • 2 cups water (110 to 115 degrees F)

For Greasing

  • 2 - 3 tablespoonsolive oil

Here's how to make it:

  1. First we make the starter. In a medium bowl, mix water and yeast. If using regular yeast, wait 10 minutes or so until yeast has creamy texture. If using instant yeast, just mix yeast and water straight into flour in the next step.
  2. Mix flour and water and yeast mixture into bowl to form sticky and loose dough.Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 3 or 4 hours. You can also make this the night before and let it sit overnight.
  3. Once the starter rests it will be bubbly. Pour 2 more cups of warm water into it a little at a time. Scrape along the edge of the bowl with a spatula.
  4. Pour mixture into astand mixer bowl with an oiled dough hook. Mix on low for 1 to2 minutes, and continue to mix while slowly adding flour. Add salt with last cup of flour. Mix on medium for 10 minutes. Then mix on high for 10 more minutes. Dough should pull away from sides of the mixing bowl.
  5. Transfer to dough to a bowl greased with olive oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 40 to50 minutes.
  6. Dip a spatula in warm water. Fold dough from outside to center. Do this seven to10 times. Using hands raise dough out of bowl and until it starts to fold over and put back in bowl. Turn bowl 90 degrees and do this again. Cover again and let rise for another 40 to 50 minutes. Repeat spatula folds and lifting folds again.
  7. Generously sprinkle work surface with flour, and let dough slide onto it by flipping bowl upside down. Sprinkle the top of the dough with flour, and gently form dough to a rectangle. Cut dough into three elongated loaves. I use a bench scraper to do this.Generously sprinkle three kitchen hand towels with flour. Transfer one loaf to center of each towel and cover by folding towel ends over each one.
  8. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F while bread is resting in towel. Line abaking pan withparchment paper and sprinkle paper with flour. Flip each loaf gently from towels onto parchment paper.Spray the oven with warm water right before you place it in oven to create steam.
  9. Bake for 450 degrees F for 10 minutes without opening the oven. Leave bread in oven and reduce heat to 400 degrees F and then bake for another 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

Note: 30Seconds is a participant in the Amazon affiliate advertising program and this post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission or fees if you make a purchase via those links.

Recipe cooking times and servings are approximate. Need to convert cooking and baking measurements? Here are some kitchen conversion charts. Here's how to submit your recipes to 30Seconds.

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get recipes in your newsfeed daily.

Related Products on Amazon We Think You May Like:

30Second Mobile, Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Stand Mixers $50 & Up
Yeast $4 & Up
Bread Flour $3 & Up
Table Salt $1 & Up
Olive Oil $4 & Up
Baking Pans $8 & Up
Parchment Paper $3 & Up
  • Tags
  • baker
  • baking
  • baking-yeast-bread
  • bread
  • bread-recipes
  • ciabatta-bread
  • easy-ciabatta-bread-recipes
  • food
  • fresh-ciabatta-bread
  • homemade-bread
  • homemade-ciabatta-bread
  • italian-bread
  • Italian-bread-recipes
  • recipes
  • tried-and-true-recipes
  • white-bread
  • whole-wheat-bread
  • yeast-bread-recipes
  • yeast-breads
Big Ole Bill's Authentic 3-Ingredient Italian Ciabatta Bread Recipe | Bread/Muffins | 30Seconds Food (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between ciabatta and Italian bread? ›

The main difference between these two loaves of bread comes down to the hydration levels. Ciabatta is baked with a much higher hydration level, making the holes within the dough much bigger than a baguette. Ciabatta is also baked with a much stronger flour, which has a more delicate and sweet taste.

What are the main ingredients in ciabatta bread? ›

Ingredients
  • 1 ½ cups water.
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  • 3 ¼ cups bread flour.
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt.
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar.
  • 1 ½ teaspoons bread machine yeast.

What does ciabatta bread mean in Italian? ›

The name derives from its appearance, as ciabatta in Italian means 'slipper', referring to its long, flat shape.

Why is ciabatta bread so good? ›

The soft, chewy texture and honeycomb holes make ciabatta perfect for dunking into soups or swiping up sauce from a dinner plate. It also makes for a delicious sandwich bread filled with layers of cured meats, cheeses, and balsamic vinegar.

Is ciabatta bread a healthy bread? ›

Yes, it is. If you consume ciabatta in moderation and with the right foods, it can offer various health benefits. Ciabatta contains multiple essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins such as carbohydrates, proteins, iron, sodium, and vitamins B1 and B3. Hence, its consumption helps improve overall health.

How do Italians eat ciabatta? ›

In Italy, ciabatta is eaten in many ways. Popular variations with the Italians are to sprinkle a slice of the bread with good-quality olive oil, dip pieces broken off the loaf in pasta or salad sauce, or treat themselves to a panini filled with salami, mozzarella or Parma ham.

What do you eat with ciabatta bread? ›

It's a rather dry, crusty bread that is great for sopping up broths and gravies, so I like to have it with soups, roasts and stews. Ciabatta is great for sandwiches, too. I like to make broiled sammies with ciabatta.

Can you eat ciabatta bread cold? ›

This product may be served hot or cold.

Is ciabatta bread better for you than regular bread? ›

No.

Ciabatta bread is relatively high in carbohydrates and has nearly zero grams of fiber,” Richards cautioned. Mowrer added some other red flags, which include “higher carbs, calories and sodium per slice compared to other bread.”

Is ciabatta bread good for diabetics? ›

The whole wheat, calcium, and fiber found in ciabatta bread can aid in proper digestion, prevent type 2 diabetes, and promote bone health (although not all ciabatta is made from whole wheat).

Is ciabatta better than sourdough? ›

Sourdough bread is healthier than traditional ciabatta bread. Ciabatta bread is a popular type of Italian bread, and therefore, is less nutritious than sourdough bread due to the leavening agent used. However, if you are searching for a healthier ciabatta bread, you can choose one made with sourdough or whole grains.

What is a fun fact about ciabatta bread? ›

The name derives from its appearance, as ciabatta in Italian means 'slipper', referring to its long, flat shape. Although throughout history there have been many breads that resemble ciabatta, the exact bread variety is actually quite new on the scene in regards to other traditional Italian breads.

What is the healthiest bread to eat? ›

Here are our top 7 choices for wholesome, nutrient-dense breads.
  1. Sprouted whole grain. Sprouted bread is made from whole grains that have started to sprout from exposure to heat and moisture. ...
  2. Sourdough. ...
  3. 100% whole wheat. ...
  4. Oat bread. ...
  5. Flax bread. ...
  6. 100% sprouted rye bread. ...
  7. Healthy gluten-free bread.

How long does ciabatta bread last? ›

Ciabatta bread will keep at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 5 days in a container or bag. It also keeps really well in the freezer for up to 3 months in a sealed freezer bag. You can also freeze the bread wrapped tightly in plastic wrap if you don't have any freezer bags.

Is ciabatta actually Italian? ›

Ciabatta is an Italian bread that was first produced back in 1982 by Arnaldo Cavallari. Cavallari was a miller and baker near Venice. During this time the French Baguettes were very popular and bakeries wanted to develop a product that would be able to compete with a baguette.

What bread is most similar to ciabatta? ›

Ciriola. These small rolls are similar to ciabatta in the sense that they're crusty on the outside and tender on the inside.

What is the fluffy Italian bread called? ›

Focaccia is ½" to 1" thick with a light crust on the top and bottom. It's often described as "flatbread" or "Italian flat bread," but unlike the flat bread we're used to, it isn't flat at all, but thick and fluffy. The "flat" term in question simply refers to the pan in which it's baked compared to other breads.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Reed Wilderman

Last Updated:

Views: 5727

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Reed Wilderman

Birthday: 1992-06-14

Address: 998 Estell Village, Lake Oscarberg, SD 48713-6877

Phone: +21813267449721

Job: Technology Engineer

Hobby: Swimming, Do it yourself, Beekeeping, Lapidary, Cosplaying, Hiking, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Reed Wilderman, I am a faithful, bright, lucky, adventurous, lively, rich, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.