Ciabatta Bread

Recipe View 5 mins Add ingredients to the bread machine: In the bread machine pan, add water, olive oil, bread flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in the order recommended by your bread machine manufacturer. (5 minutes)

Recipe View 1 hrs 30 mins Run the dough cycle: Start the dough cycle on your bread machine. This should take approximately 90 minutes.

Recipe View 17 mins Rest the Dough: Remove the dough from the machine – it will be sticky! Place it on a heavily floured surface, cover with a bowl or greased plastic wrap, and let rest for 15 minutes. This allows the gluten to relax. (2 minutes + 15 minutes rest)

Recipe View 10 mins Shape the Loaves: Gently flour two baking sheets or line them with parchment paper. Using a serrated knife or dough scraper, divide the dough into two equal portions. Shape each portion into a rough 3x14-inch oval, handling the dough gently to preserve the air pockets. (10 minutes)

Recipe View 47 mins Second Rise: Transfer the shaped loaves to the prepared baking sheets. Dust the tops lightly with flour. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 45 minutes, or until nearly doubled in size. (2 minutes + 45 minutes rise)

Recipe View 16 mins Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) about 15 minutes before the end of the second rise. (1 minute + 15 minutes preheat)

Recipe View 26 mins Bake: Spritz the loaves generously with water to create a steamy environment in the oven. This will help develop a crisp crust. Place the baking sheets on the middle rack of the preheated oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. (1 minute + 25-30 minutes bake)

Recipe View 2 mins Cool: Transfer the baked Ciabatta loaves to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving. This prevents the bread from becoming soggy. (2 minutes)