Ciabatta


Sun dried tomatoes and basil Ciabatta rolls

"Where do we spend our vacation this time Honey?"

Oh I love that question! As I was busy preparing our dinner last night, my hubby popped that question to me. I have no idea yet, I replied. The truth is, after our common passion for food we both love travelling. And who doesn't? Travelling is always the best way to discover and meet people, their culture, their cuisine and their way of life. When we were students we were backpackers who would stay, eat and travel the cheapest way. Oh you wouldn't imagine how severely I haggle just to have discounts. :-) But gone are those days. Not that we have more money and we have grown older now. I guess it's just different now because we have a kid. Our perspective in life changes to a new dimension. No more risky travel I guess.

As I continue to contemplate our next destination, I couldn't help but remember one of the best places I have been, Italy. The spectacular monuments, churchers, museums and plazzas and their delectable cuisine. Do not blame me if I ended up baking some ciabatta.

This is my entry to Grow Your Own a blogging event created by Andrea and is being hosted by Bee of Jugalbandi. You have until July 30 to send your entries.


Sun dried Tomatoes and Basil Ciabatta Rolls

(there exist a lot of recipes in making this Italian slipper bread and this recipe is one of them)

460 g of flour
250 ml of warm water

1 sachet (about 1 teaspoon of dry yeast)

4 tablespoons of olive oil

1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 tablespoon of chopped Sun dried tomatoes

1 tablespoon of chopped basil (you can use fresh or dry ones)
(you can add more or less of the tomatoes and basil )

Dissolve the yeast on the warm water and add about one cup of flour on it. Let this stand for about an hour. Once little bubbles are formed on your yeast you can start putting the rest of the flour on your working table. Make a whole in the middle and add your dissolved yeast. Add the salt and olive oil. Work this dough for about ten minutes. Do not hesitate to put flour if it becomes too sticky. Add your chopped tomatoes and basil. Form a big ball and let this stand for an hour, cover it with wet towel. After the first rise cut the dough in six equal parts. To form the ciabatta bread, with the aid of your rolling pin flatten each ball of about 1 cm thickness. Fold from top to the center and the lower part to the center. You will now have long rectangular shaped dough. Fold again from right to the center and the left to the center. Imagine it will be like a folded square towel that is a little bit plumpy on the top. Powder it with flour and let it rise for another hour directly on your parchement papers. Preheat the oven at 200° celsius and bake the bread for about twenty to twenty five minutes. You can put a ramekin with a water inside the oven while baking the bread to have a crusty bread.
Believe me its delicious!!!

My other bread recipes:

Caramelized Onions, Roasted Tomatoes Foccacia Bread
Rosemary and Black Olive Fougasse
Mini-flute Bread

28 comments:

Millie said...

They do look mouthwatering! Congrats!

MaryAthenes said...

Ils sont magnifiques ces pains...
J'ai une petite devinette sur mon blog,
Bonne journee !

K and S said...

looks wonderful! I wonder where you will vacation this year??

Manggy said...

Don't worry about it. When your daughter is a little older you can resume visiting all those places! In the meantime you can enjoy your delicious ciabatta!

Peter M said...

The bread is made well and I don't think you'd lie about the flavour...I can imagine the basil and sun dired tomato...bravo lil' fishie!

bee said...

those are sooooo beautiful. thank you.

Adam said...

Yup. You got me. I believe you, that is delicious. The first pics were nice, but that last one is a killer. I mean look at the basil, that's sweet :) High fives all around.

Shari said...

This looks delicious! I love the basil on top in your photo!
Shari@Whisk: a food blog

Deborah said...

Ciabatta is probably one of my favorite breads, and this sounds fantastic!

Lori Lynn said...

I do believe you!

We like to brush ciabatta with some olive oil and grill it. Love the textures in your photos.

Meeta K. Wolff said...

I do love ciabatta - and your version is delectable!

haze said...

I don't know how you do it but this bread looks different from those we could by in French bakery like baguette etc ! I wonder what's the taste of this, next time let's have a taste test :)!

Suzana said...

Ciabatta is an old favourite of mine - your bread looks YUMMY, and I'm sure is very delicious!

Now where are you heading for the holidays? ;)

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

I love fresh ciabatta rolls -- I often use them for panini, with all kinds of fillings.

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Mmm... that I can hear the crispiness of that bread breaking right now, and I wish I had a big hunk! Sun-dried tomatoes and basil are perfect together. Lovely entry, Dhanggit!

Leslie said...

Oh,,,there is nothing like a nice loaf of comforting bread!!
And vacations are never the same once you have children! :(

test it comm said...

Those ciabatta rolls look great! I like the flavours added to them!

eatingclubvancouver_js said...

Another day, another great-looking bread! Gosh, you are slowly eroding my laziness. . .I want to bake like you! ;)

Unknown said...

i believe!!!...looks so good... :)

zorra said...

Wow, these ciabatte look awesome!

Anonymous said...

Love the pictures of this lovely and delicious looking ciabatta! The black background and the lighting work very well.

Oggi said...

The ciabattas are lovely and I like the addition of sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil, yum!

I love ciabatta for sandwiches or simply dipped in good olive oil.

Anonymous said...

I find your blog wonderful.
I would like to try this recipe of ciabatta (i am italian but not a cook!), Which kind of flour did you use? All purpose or manitoba?
Thank you very much.
I miei complimenti!!

Anonymous said...

I believe you! It looks deliciously crisp and chewy!

Chibog in Chief said...

hi aleka,

thanks for visiting my kitchen. as for the flour, i just used ordinary bread flour available in france and i dont think im familiar with manitoba..well good luck on your baking :-)

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much!!
Ciao ciao

Padma said...

Those are so beautiful, came from GYO round up, I am glad I found you...

Andrea Meyers said...

Your loaves are beautiful! Thanks for sharing them with Grow Your Own!