Domenica: Ciabatta Bread Recipe

Yields: 3 loaves
Conversion Chart: Here >>

Chef's Notes: Tips:
A stand mixer with dough attachment is the best tool for making ciabatta in order to ensure the dough gets enough air to rise properly. The recipe will work if kneaded by hand, but will not yield the same results.

Ingredients:
2 ¾ cups Milk (warmed to approximately 75 degrees – should not be hot to the touch)
2 teaspoons Instant yeast
5 ½ cups Bread Flour
3 ½ teaspoons kosher sea salt

Procedure:
Combine milk & yeast – whisk together until dissolved in mixing bowl for mixer. Add flour. Using the dough hook attachment of your mixer, turn on slow speed for 3 minutes. Scrape bowl to make sure all is incorporated. Add sea salt. Turn mixer to medium speed for 4 minutes.

Cover bowl with plastic and let sit on counter for 75 minutes.

Once the dough has risen in the bowl, cover the counter with a thick layer of flour. Using cold wet hands, make three folds of the dough while it is still in the bowl, then dump out onto your heavily floured counter. Let the dough sit for 30 minutes. Cut and shape the pieces – slightly rectangular like a “slipper”. Let the dough sit for another 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Set a baking stone or an upside down sheet pan inside the oven.

The best way to pick up the dough is fingers down thumbs up – carefully compact the dough so it won’t fall through your fingers and stretch out on heated baking stone or sheet pan like a slipper. Don’t worry about a perfect shape – this is rustic bread.

Bake for 450 for approximately 20 – 30 min – should be light as a pillow when done – at least half the weight it was before it went into the oven.

Once removed from oven let cool at least an hour before slicing.




Restaurant: Domenica, 123 Baronne St. New Orleans, LA 70112 (A John Besh Restaurant)
Recipe Type: Authentic
Recipe Author: Chef Lisa White
Chef's Background: Chef at the Domenica Restaurant
Original Photograph By:
Photograph Retouched By: Recipe Spy
Recipe Source: http://www.chefjohnbesh.com/ciabatta-at-home/

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