Ciabatta
Ciabatta is a small, very soft Italian bread. The name means "slipper". It normally takes a long time to prepare as a special leaven called "biga" is used, but this simplified version is quicker and just as good.
296 K 4.0/5 (27 reviews)
3 hours 25 min.
Easy
30 Ciabattas
8 IngredientsLast modified on: October 24th 2017
400 ml 
300 ml 
18 g 
30 g 
100 ml 
1 kg 
40 g 
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 1 hour 1 min.
Resting: 2 hours
Cooking: 20 min.
All in all: 3 hours 25 min.
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Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 5 min.
Pour 400 ml Milk, 300 ml water, 18 g salt, 30 g caster sugar and 100 ml olive oil into a pan, and warm over gentle heat.
You can also melt all these ingredients in a bowl in the microwave for 1 minute.
You can also melt all these ingredients in a bowl in the microwave for 1 minute.
Stage 2 - 3 min.
Stage 3 - 6 min.
Knead on minimum speed for 5 to 8 minutes, until the dough is evenly mixed and elastic.
Note: For the best way to knead, see: A few tips for effective kneading at home.
Note: For the best way to knead, see: A few tips for effective kneading at home.
Stage 4 - 5 min.
Tip out onto the worktop without flour, and stretch...
Stage 5 - 5 min.
... then fold back on itself a number of times.
You can see how to do this in the recipe for leavened bread which has videos showing the movement.
You can see how to do this in the recipe for leavened bread which has videos showing the movement.
Stage 6 - 2 hours
Next place the dough in a bowl, cover with a plastic sheet, and leave in a warm place until doubled in volume, which will take 2-3 hours.
Stage 7 - 5 min.
After this time, tip the dough out onto the worktop, press to expell the CO2 gas that has formed, and shape into a ball.
Stage 8 - 10 min.
Cut the ball of dough into smaller pieces of about 50 g.
Stage 9 - 10 min.
Then roll each piece under your hand to make a nice ball and place on a baking sheet, as shown in this short video.
You will see that you should try to keep both thumb and little finger straight (these roll the ball), and the other 3 fingers curved over the top.
You will see that you should try to keep both thumb and little finger straight (these roll the ball), and the other 3 fingers curved over the top.
Stage 10 - 5 min.
The dough is very sticky, which is quite normal, but means that they risk sticking to the plastic sheet when covered again.
This little trick will help to avoid this: place a glass in the middle of each sheet between the rolls...
This little trick will help to avoid this: place a glass in the middle of each sheet between the rolls...
Stage 11 - 2 min.
And lay the plastic sheet over the glasses, so that the dough does not stick to it.
Stage 12 - 5 min.
Leave the rolls to rise and double in volume for 1 or 2 hours in a warm place.
Preheat oven to 180°C (360°F).
Just before baking, brush the rolls with a little milk to help them brown.
Preheat oven to 180°C (360°F).
Just before baking, brush the rolls with a little milk to help them brown.
Stage 13 - 20 min.
Cook for about 20 minutes until golden brown, then leave to cool on a wire rack.
Remarks
Ciabattas are great on their own, but you can use them to make delicious sandwiches, or for hamburgers.
Keeping: Several days in a towel bag.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 130 RDI=50 % | 800 RDI=80 % | 130 RDI=20 % | 4,880 RDI=240 % | 20,440 RDI: 240 % |
| Per 100 g | 6 RDI=3 % | 40 RDI=4 % | 6 RDI=1 % | 260 RDI=10 % | 1,080 RDI: 10 % |
| Per piece | 4 RDI=2 % | 30 RDI=3 % | 4 RDI=1 % | 160 RDI=8 % | 680 RDI: 8 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 30 Ciabattas : £2.70
- Per Ciabatta : £0.10
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Flour
Like these other recipes: Cashew-nut and Parmesan biscuits, Puff or flaky pastry (pâte feuilletée), Breton sablé biscuit dough, Chocolate and matcha tea biscuits, Moist Lemon Cake, ... See them all 202
Milk
Like these other recipes: Gougères, Muffin dough, Bonnevaux apple tart, Buckwheat pancakes, Chocolate eclairs, ... See them all 59
Water
Like these other recipes: Raisin breads (pains aux raisins), Turnip and Jerusalem artichoke soup, Sorrel soup, Nougat, Tomato foccacia, ... See them all 136
Olive oil
Like these other recipes: Celeriac and mushroom gratin, Greek salad, Vegetable stock, Warm lentil salad, Tenderloin steak with beetroot tops and mushrooms, ... See them all 531
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