Easy No Knead Ciabatta Bread

This is an Easy no Knead, One bowl Italian Ciabatta Bread. Two hours and you can have Homemade Bread for lunch or dinner. Perfect with your favorite soup or stew or with a slice or prosciutto!

When I moved to Italy, I discovered that bread was a very serious business! Fresh whether it be the local bakery or homemade fresh daily bread was a must.

Recipe Ingredients

• Water – lukewarm
• Honey
• Yeast – active dry
• Flour – all purpose flour or bread flour
• Salt

How to make a Ciabatta Bread Recipe

In a small bowl 1/4 cup of water, honey and yeast, let sit 5 minutes then stir.

In a large bowl add the flour , make a well in the centre and add the yeast mixture and 1/2 cup of water (if too dry then add the extra 1/4 cup 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach a wettish dough).

Mix together with a wooden spoon, when almost mixed add the salt and combine. The ciabatta dough will be loose and sticky. Sprinkle the top with 1 1/2 tablespoons of flour.

Cover the bowl with a large tea towel or plastic wrap.

Place in a warm, draft free area and let the dough rise for 1 1/2 hours.

Carefully move the dough from the bowl with a scraper or spatula to the prepared baking sheet, making sure that the floured top of the dough remains on the top.

With a spatula form the dough into an oblong loaf, place 5 or 6 ice cubes on a pan on the bottom of the oven to create vapor or add the pan when pre-heating the oven and pour 1 cup of very hot water into the pan before adding the dough. Bake for approximately 20 – 25 minutes, immediately move to a wire rack to cool before cutting and serving.

Why do I add ice cubes or hot water?

Adding the ice cubes or hot water to the preheated oven creates steam. They melt and evaporate at just the right time. Once they evaporate and are no longer creating steam this gives the bread a chance to form that lovely outer crust.

I recommend using a thick metal dish rather than a glass or ceramic cake pan if you are using ice cubes as the difference in temperatures can cause the dish to crack.

How to tell when bread is done

You can tell bread is done when you tap on the bottom of the loaf and there is a hollow sound, but if you want to be 100 percent sure, then using a thermometer is your best best, the bread is baked when the centre of the loaf registers 200 to 210 degrees.

What is Ciabatta Bread

This bread is originally from the North of Italy, from the Province of Rovigo in Veneto Region. It is a flat, elongated bread with a light texture. It is a very simple bread, made up of a very high quantity of water which produced a very wet dough. It produces a very large crumb. And is considered a typical old fashioned Italian bread.

Why I became intrigued with bread making I have know idea, it started in my early twenties and went from there.

I would try making something now and then from Bagels to Pizza and the occasional Loaf of Bread.

I also discovered that bread making isn’t nearly as difficult as I thought and this Italian Ciabatta (Ciabatta meaning Slipper in English, because of the shape and flatness of the bread).

Can I substitute active dry yeast?

Yes you can substitute with instant yeast, for every teaspoon of active dry yeast use 3/4 teaspoon of instant yeast. Also be aware it won’t need as much time to rise.

How to store it

Keep the baked cooled bread, closed in an airtight bag, for 2-3 days. You can freeze it in freezer safe bags, defrost the bread in the refrigerator as needed, passing them in the oven for a few minutes to revive them. It will keep up to 2-3 months in the freezer.

This Homemade Ciabatta Bread is a simple and delicious bread. The perfect addition to whatever you are serving, amazing as a dipping bread also! I hope you enjoy it! Buon Appetito!

More delicious homemade bread recipes you may enjoy!

• Best Pizza Dough
• Homemade Olive Oil Bread Rolls
• Sweet Surprise Dessert Bread
• Easy Focaccia Bread
• Traditional Italian Ciabatta Bread

Updated from November 27, 2018.