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A freshly baked ciabatta bread with a golden crust, topped with sesame seeds, oats, and grains, placed on a black background.

Ciabatta Bread Recipe

Ciabatta is aclassic Italian bread known for its crispy crust and light, airy texture. Thiseasy homemade recipe serves 4 and uses simple ingredients like bread flour,water, yeast, salt, and olive oil. The dough requires time to rise and stretch,but most of it is hands-off. Bake until golden, then cool before slicing.Perfect for sandwiches, soups, or dipping in olive oil. Ready in about 4 hours, with around 200 calories perserving.
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Prep Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Second Rise + Cooling Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Breakfast, dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 200
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups 250g bread flour
  • ¾ cup 180ml warm water
  • ½ tsp instant yeast or ¾ tsp active dry yeast
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp olive oil plus more for greasing

Method
 

  1. Mix the dough: In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, and salt. Add warm water and olive oil. Stir until a sticky dough forms.
  2. First rise: Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap. Let it rest at room temperature for 1 to 1.5 hours, until doubled in size.
  3. Stretch and fold: Lightly oil your hands. Gently stretch the dough and fold it over itself. Turn the bowl and repeat on all sides. Do this 3–4 times, every 30 minutes.
  4. Shape the dough: Sprinkle flour on your work surface. Carefully turn out the dough. Divide it into two long, flat pieces. Handle gently to keep the air bubbles.
  5. Second rise: Place dough pieces on a floured baking sheet. Cover and let them rest for 30–45 minutes.
  6. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Place a baking stone or tray inside to heat.
  7. Bake the bread: Slide the dough onto the hot surface. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until golden and crisp.
  8. Cool before serving: Allow the ciabatta to rest on a wire rack for a minimum of 30 minutes before cutting into it.