Ciabatta
- 1 cup plus 1 tablespoonroom-temperature water (75F to 80F)
- 1 1/4-ounce package dry yeast
- 3 1/3 cups bread flour
- Biga (starter dough; see above)
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons room-temperature water (75F to 80F)
- Pinch of dry yeast
- 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons semolina flour*
- 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
- Additional semolina flour
- *Also called pasta flour, semolina flour is available at natural foods stores, Italian markets and some supermarkets.
- Place water in processor.
- Sprinkle yeast over.
- Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 8 minutes.
- Add 1 cup flour; process until blended.
- Scrape down sides of work bowl.
- Add 1 cup flour; repeat processing and scraping.
- Add remaining 1 1/3 cups flour.
- Process until small moist clumps form.
- Gather dough into ball (dough will be firm); place in large bowl.
- Cover; chill overnight (biga will soften, resembling thick oatmeal in texture).
- Pull biga into walnut-size pieces; place in a clean large bowl.
- Add water, yeast and 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons semolina.
- Using 1 hand, squeeze ingredients together 2 minutes.
- Work dough 4 minutes by scooping sections from sides of bowl and pressing into center, blending into very soft, shaggy mass.
- Using spatula, scrape dough from sides of bowl into center.
- Let dough rest in bowl, uncovered, 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle salt over dough.
- Using 1 hand, knead dough by rotating bowl 1/4 turn at a time, scooping dough from sides and folding down into center until dough starts to come away from sides of bowl, about 5 minutes.
- Scrape dough from hand and sides of bowl.
- Cover bowl with towel; let dough rest 20 minutes.
- Rotating bowl 1/4 turn at a time, fold dough over onto itself 6 times; turn dough over in bowl.
- Cover with towel and let dough rest in bowl 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 425F.
- Sprinkle work surface with additional semolina.
- Turn dough out onto semolina.
- Using pastry scraper or large knife, cut dough in half; keep halves separated.
- Let stand, uncovered, 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle 2 large baking sheets with additional semolina.
- Transfer each dough half, semolina side up, to 1 sheet.
- Stretch each dough half to 16x4-inch rectangle.
- Press fingertips into dough in several places to dimple surface (characteristic of this bread).
- Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
- Cool.
- (Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead.
- Double-wrap in aluminum foil to freeze.)
water, yeast, bread flour, starter, water, yeast, flour, salt, flour, pasta flour
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/ciabatta-5865 (may not work)