No-fuss No-knead Ciabatta Bread

• total time: 57 minutes

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups (270g) bread flour or all-purpose flour 🌾

1 tablespoon (6g) active dry yeast or 2 teaspoons instant yeast 🌟

1 teaspoon (5g) salt 🧂

1/2 teaspoon (4g) sugar 🍬

1 cup (240ml) warm water 💧

Directions

Step 1: Activate yeast

Combine yeast with 1/4 cup warm water in a small bowl and let it sit for about 5 minutes until bubbly.

Step 2: Mix dough

In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, and sugar. Add the yeast mixture and the remaining warm water. Stir until the dough is sticky—it’s okay if it feels wet.

Step 3: Let it rise

Cover the bowl with a cloth, sprinkle some flour on top, and let the dough rise for 1½ hours until it doubles in size.

Step 4: Shape loaves

Flour a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Gently transfer the dough onto it and divide into two pieces. Shape each piece into rustic, baguette-like loaves—don’t worry about perfection!

Step 5: Oven prep with steam

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Place a pan of boiling water on the lower rack to create steam for a crispy crust.

Step 6: Bake

Bake the loaves on the middle rack for 10 minutes with the steam, then remove the water and bake for another 10–15 minutes until golden brown and crusty.

Step 7: Cool and enjoy

Let the bread cool a little before slicing. Enjoy your fresh, homemade ciabatta with butter, olive oil, or your favorite spread!