I used ChatGPT AI to generate this recipe and instructions. Generally, my process would be a bit different with more fermentation and care to the time to allow the gluten to be stronger and more gas pockets to develop. The idea of this recipe is for anyone to easily and quickly create ciabatta bread at home in a couple of hours with minimal effort. I am certain this has been accomplished!! The taste is amazing.

Ciabatta is a great bread, which was invented in 1982 by Arnaldo Cavallar with the idea of competing with the French baguette. He succeeded!!!

I hope you enjoy this recipe and be sure to let me know how your fast and easy ciabatta turned out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBf7C7MkU4w

CIABATTA Bread

A very simple and fast recipe for creating ciabatta at home.

Ingredients

500 g All-Purpose Flour
400 ml Warm Water
25 g Fresh Yeast (8g dry)
10 g Salt
2 tsp Sugar This will feed the yeast

Instructions

Prefermentation

Put 100ml of warm water in a bowl then add the yeast and sugar. Give this a good mix to incorporate all of the ingredients
Add 20g of flour and give this a good mix.
Let rise for 15 minutes in warm place

Creating the Ciabatta dough

Sift 480g of flour into your mixer bowl
Add the prefermentation & salt
Mix for three minutes on low and then increase the speed to medium and mix for five more minutes
Lighly oil bowl and add the mixed dough to it
Let rest for 15 minutes
Preheat oven to 250c (480f) or as close as you can get
Insert pan in bottom of the oven to hold water for steaming

Stretch-and-fold & Baking

Do the first stretch-and-fold of the dough by pulling the sides into the center. Maybe 6 times as you work your way around the dough.
Cover and let rest for 15 minutes
Repeat the previous two steps three more times for a total of four stretch-and-folds with the dough.
Cover and let rest for 15-30 minutes.
Shape the dough gently to not remove any of the gas and then cut into pieces to put on your baking tray. I recommend having parchment paper under the dough.
Cover and let sit for 15-30 minutes while waiting for oven to heat
Add 1 cup of water to put in oven. Note, it will be hot so be careful!
Put the bread in the oven and bake until golden brown.
Remove from oven and let cool before eating.. if you can wait that long 🙂