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.
292 K 4.0/5 (27 reviews)
3 hours 25 min.
Easy
15 Ciabattas
8 IngredientsLast modified on: October 24th 2017
200 ml 
150 ml 
9 g 
15 g 
50 ml 
500 g 
20 g 
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 1 hour 1 min.
Resting: 2 hours
Cooking: 20 min.
All in all: 3 hours 25 min.
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: 16:10.Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 5 min.
Pour 200 ml Milk, 150 ml water, 9 g salt, 15 g caster sugar and 50 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 | 60 RDI=20 % | 400 RDI=40 % | 70 RDI=10 % | 2,440 RDI=120 % | 10,220 RDI: 120 % |
| 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 15 Ciabattas : 1.60 €
- Per Ciabatta : 0.15 €
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: Oatmeal and apple cookies, Chestnut and hazelnut biscuits, Oaty walnut cake , Savoury mini-madeleines with 2 cheeses, Bechamel sauce, ... See them all 201
Milk
Like these other recipes: Chocolate tart, Chocolate cream, Bechamel sauce, Chocolate rolls (petits pains), Loaf for "les filles'", ... See them all 59
Water
Like these other recipes: Quince and apple compote, Zucchini and potato scarpaccia, Vegetable stock, Seeded loaf, Pizza dough, ... See them all 136
Olive oil
Like these other recipes: Leek and Jerusalem artichoke soup, Saltimbocca, Curried mussels with cabbage, Home-made chilli oil, Caesar salad, ... See them all 521
Other recipes you may also like
Chocolate sauce
This rich smooth chocolate sauce, with its full flavour, is one of the indispensable ingredients of profiteroles, but it can be used with many others desserts.February 21th 2011310 K 24 35 min.
Courgettes (zuchinis)
A classic gratin, but with the courgettes cooked separately to prevent too much juice being released during the oven cooking, and so make a dish that is barely moist.October 13th 2010507 K 13.7 1 hour 20 min.
Ratatouille confite
In this ratatouille recipe, the vegetables are cooked longer than usual to get a richer melting dish.June 12th 2011221 K 13.8 2 hours 40 min.
Pain perdu
This is a sweet French version of "eggy bread": slices of bread soaked in a mixture of milk, cream, egg yolks and vanilla sugar, then pan-fried until golden. It's really simple and wickedly delicious!July 20th 2011170 K3.8 40 min.
Winemaker's toast
These oven-baked open sandwiches are topped with onions cooked in red wine, fried bacon and potatoes, finished with a thin layer of melted cheese.March 11th 2012105 K5 1 hour 20 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-06-15)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe (as 2 people already do)
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.