Ciabatta Bread

Bread Challenge Week 27

I love slipper bread. Ciabatta is an Italian bread. Ciabatta is Italian for slipper. Hence, slipper bread. I love it.

America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book stepped in a provided this weeks challenge recipe. This particular book is full of additional information and tips for the included recipes and the instructions are clearly written and sometimes even have accompanying pictures to help show technique. I love America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book. I have had it checked out from the library and renewed it the maximum number of time my library will allow me too. I think that is a good sign I should buy it. This is re

ally a good book for beginning bakers.

So back to ciabatta bread. Our ciabatta bread was delicious. The crust was crisp and crunchy and open soft crumb. The America’s Test Kitchen recipe called for a using a starter similar as one would for a sour dough bread which gave the ciabatta loaves great flavor.

The recipe only took about 35 minutes of hands on time but with using the starter method it took more than a day from start to finish. The cookbook also includes a same day recipe.

Ciabatta is very versatile. I cut one of the two loaves from this recipe in half length wise and turned the bread into the base for a couple of pizza’s. We used the bread for toast with runny eggs and turkey sandwiches. This bread’s soft open crumb is perfect for dipping in sauces, dips and soups.

My loaves came out a little too done so I think next time I will cut time off of the recommended baking time to make sure it doesn’t brown too much. This recipe makes two loaves which is a bit too much for a family of three when dealing with a bread that is best eaten when fresh. Regardless, I am sure I will make this again. Our super easy pizza dinner was worth it.

Flavor: 5
Hands on time: 3
Total time: 1
Recipe: 5
versatility: 5
make it again: 4
Catherine: 1
Luke: 1
Maddy: 1

Total Score: 26
(what is this Bread Challenge and how are recipes scored?)

Previous Bread Challenge reviews:
Cornmeal Pancake -Week 26
Lemon Poppy Seed – Week 25
Sourdough – Week 24
Tortillas – Week 23
Honey Wheat Hamburger Buns – Week 22
Garlic Studded Baguette – Week 21
Quinoa Bread – Week 20
Asiago Herb and Garlic Bread – Week 19
Cranberry Pecan Rye Bread – Week 18
Rotis – Whole Wheat Unleavened Bread- Week 17
Farmhouse White Loaf – Week 16
Honey Whole Wheat Slow Cooker Bread – Week 15
The Easiest Loaf of Bread You’ll Ever Bake – Week 14
Hot Cross Buns – Week 13
100% Whole Wheat Bread – Week 12
Thin Wheat Crackers – Week 11
Irish Soda Bread – Week 10
Double Blueberry Muffins – Week 9
Oatmeal Batter Bread – Week 8
Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls – Week 7
Cheesy Pretzels – Week 6
Light Rye Bread – Week 5
Country-Style Whole-Wheat Pita – Week 4
Carrot Raisin Quick Bread – Week 3
Potato Bread – Week 2
Focaccia – Week 1