Ciabatta Bread

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3.25 cups bread flour
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1.5 teaspoons bread machine yeast

Instructions

1. 1

   Place water, olive oil, bread flour, salt, sugar, and yeast into a bread machine in the order listed, or follow the order recommended by the manufacturer if different. Run the Dough cycle, about 90 minutes.

2. 2

   Remove dough from the machine after the cycle is done. It will be quite sticky and wet; resist the temptation to add more flour. Place dough onto a generously floured board, cover with a large bowl or greased plastic wrap, and let rest for 15 minutes.

3. 3

   Lightly flour two baking sheets or line them with parchment paper. Cut dough with a serrated knife into two equal pieces; form each into piece into a 3x14-inch oval. Tranfer loaves to the prepared baking sheets and dust lightly with flour. Cover and let rise in a draft-free place for approximately 45 minutes.

4. 4

   Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

5. 5

   Spritz loaves with water, then place onto the middle rack of the preheated oven. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.