Name: Ciabatta (Italian "Slipper" Bread)
Yield: Makes 2 loaves
Ingredients: 1/8 teaspoon active dry yeast; 2 tablespoons warm water (105°‐115° F.); 1/3 cup room-temperature water; 1 cup bread flour*; 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast; 2 tablespoons warm milk (105°‐115° F.); 2/3 cup room-temperature water; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 cups bread flour*; 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; *available at many supermarkets and by mail order from The Baker's Catalogue, tel. (800) 827-6836

Image may contain Food Bread Creme Cream Dessert Ice Cream and Bun

Photo by Shutterstock

The ciabatta does require a simple sponge but it takes only a few minutes to put together the day before making the bread. Though the dough for ciabatta is very wet and sticky, resist the temptation to add more flour.

For this recipe you will need a baking stone or unglazed "quarry" tiles. Baking stones are available at cookware shops and by mail order from The Baker's Catalogue, tel. (800) 827-6836. Tiles are also available at the above sources as well as at many tile stores listed in the Yellow Pages.

Recipe notes

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

21 Breads That Don't Involve a Sourdough Starter
Everyone you know has a new pet: their sourdough starter. But even if you're not quite ready for all the responsibility, you can still make bread.
113 of Our Best Bread Recipes
Savory or sweet, 3-day project or 1-hour quick loaf, whatever kind of bread you want to bake, it's here.

Caramelized Onion Pasta

Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.

Heavenly Halva Cake

Serve a thick slice for breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up.

Vodka Gochujang Pasta

This pasta has some really big energy about it. It’s so extra, it’s the type of thing you should be eating in your bikini while drinking a magnum of rosé, not in Hebden Bridge (or wherever you live), but on a beach on Mykonos.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Kung Pao Cabbage With Tofu

Reliable cabbage is cooked in the punchy sauce and then combined with store-bought baked tofu and roasted cashews for a salad that can also be eaten with rice.

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Golden Mushroom Soup With Orzo & a Pat of Butter

This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

Recipe notes

21 Breads That Don't Involve a Sourdough Starter

113 of Our Best Bread Recipes