Shop bought bread is great, but there is nothing better than eating a slice of warm, freshly baked bread. Plus it makes the kitchen smell great too!

I sometimes make these ciabattas at the weekend and use them for lunches throughout the week, or they are fantastic when they are sliced warm and served with some soup.

How to make them

Ciabatta

  • Prep Time: 2 hours / Cooking Time: 25 mins
  • Makes: 4

  • Ingredients
  • 500g strong white bread flour
  • 7g instant yeast sachets
  • 40ml olive oil
  • 400ml warm water
  • Plain flour for dusting
  1. Instructions
  2. Add a small amount of oil around a square bread tin (or any other large square container)
  3. Put the flour, yeast and a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl
  4. Add in the olive oil and 300ml of the water to the bowl and mix well then add the rest of the water until the mixture is smooth
  5. Put the dough in your square tin, cover with a tea towel and leave for 1 hour or until the mixture has risen and doubled in size
  6. Heat the oven to 220 degrees / gas mark 7 and line a baking sheet with baking paper
  7. Dust a flat surface with the flour and SLOWLY place the dough on the surface and add more flour on top
  8. With a large knife cut the dough into 4 equal pieces and stretch each piece slightly so they are ciabatta shaped
  9. Place on the baking sheet and put in the oven for 25 minutes or until the bread is golden