Ciabatta Bread with Olives and Herbs
Ingredients
- 4 1/4 cups Ciabatta flour (bread flour)
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast (optional if flour contains yeast)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
- 120g mixed olives
- 1 tablespoon dried Mediterranean herbs
Preparation
In a bowl, combine the yeast and the warm water. Cover with plastic or a kitchen towel and let it rest for at least 5 minutes.
In another bowl, combine the salt and the bread flour.
Mix everything together with your hands or a stand mixer.
Add the yeast and water mixture and mix on low until a shaggy dough forms.
Cover the bowl with plastic or a towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for around 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 200°C.
Place the dough onto a floured surface.
Sprinkle one-third of the sliced olives on top and fold the dough once. Repeat this process two more times with the remaining olives and sprinkle Mediterranean herbs on it.
Form the dough into a ball with floured hands.
Cover the dough with plastic foil and let it rest for at least 30 minutes until doubled in size.
Transfer the dough ball to a baking pan lined with parchment paper and place it in the oven.
Cover with a lid and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove the lid and bake uncovered for 15 more minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Notes
If the flour already contains yeast, omit the additional instant yeast.
Baking time may vary depending on the flour used and oven performance.
