Ciabatta is a favourite bread in our family so I thought I would have a go at making some, this Paul Hollywood recipe is a complete doddle and made fantastic bread.
500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
10g salt
10g instant yeast
40ml olive oil
400 ml tepid water
1.Lightly oil a 2-3 litre square plastic container. (It’s important to use a square tub as it helps shape the dough).
2. Put the flour, salt and yeast into the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook (don’t put the salt directly on top of the yeast). Add the olive oil and three-quarters of the water and begin mixing on a slow speed. As the dough starts to come together, slowly add the remaining water. Then mix for a further 5-8 minutes on a medium speed until the dough is smooth and stretchy. The dough is quite 'wet'.
3. Tip the dough into the prepared tub, cover with a tea towel and leave until at least doubled, even trebled in size – 1-2 hours or longer.
4. Heat your oven to 220°C and line 2 baking trays with baking parchment or silicone paper.
5. Dust your work surface heavily with flour. Carefully tip out the dough (it will be very wet) onto the work surface, trying to retain a rough square shape. Rather than knocking it back, handle it gently so you can keep as much air in the dough as possible. Coat the top of the dough with more flour. Cut the dough in half length ways and divide each half length ways into 2 strips. You should now have 4 pieces of dough. Stretch each piece of dough length ways a little and place on prepared baking trays.
6. Leave the ciabatta dough to rest for a further 10 minutes, then bake for 25 minutes, or until the loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the base. Cool on a wire rack.
