Ciabatta Bread

Ciabatta Bread

Ingredients

• 3 1/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk room temperature (or even slightly warmer)
• 2 teaspoons olive oil

Directions

1. Whisk together flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. Pour in the warm water and milk and beat for 5 minutes with a wooden spoon until the dough is well combined.
2. Once the dough is combined, flour your hands and knead the dough for 5 minutes, pushing air bubbles into the dough.
3. Oil a large bowl, and place the dough inside. Drizzle the olive oil over the top of the dough then cover with plastic wrap, and cover that with a towel, and place the bowl in a warm spot. Allow to rise for 2 hours.
4. Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle with flour. Turn the dough out onto a floured workspace and shape the dough into a long loaf, about 12" long and 4" wide. Sprinkle the top of the dough with flour (if desired. It's purely aesthetic). Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the bread is light golden and a tap on the trust should sound hollow.
5. Place the bread on a cooling rack and allow it to cool for 20-30 minutes before serving.
6. Enjoy!