Ciabatta is an Italian white bread made with wheat flour and yeast. The literal translation of the word is slipper because of its shape. The loaf is somewhat elongated, broad and flattish and, like a slipper, should be somewhat collapsed in the middle. Since the late 1990s it has been popular across Europe and in the United States, and is widely used as a sandwich bread.
It is not clear where in Italy this kind of bread was first produced, and at least one type of ciabatta can be found in nearly every region of Italy. Each regional version of the bread is a little different The ciabatta from the area encompassing Lake Como has a crisp crust, a somewhat soft, porous texture, and is light to the touch. The ciabatta found in Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche varies from bread that has a firm crust and dense crumb, to bread that has a crisper crust and more open texture. The more open-crumbed form, which is usual in the United States, is made from a very wet dough, often requiring machine-kneading, and a biga or sourdough starter.
The Italians are among the world's most experimental cooks. There are many variations of ciabatta. When made with whole wheat flour, it is known as ciabatta integrale. In Rome, it is often seasoned with olive oil, salt, and marjoram. When milk is added to the dough, it becomes ciabatta al latte. A toasted sandwich made from small loaves of ciabatta is known as a panino (plural panini).
The early 21st century saw a great increase in the use of ciabatta in the United States, most prominently in panini. This grilled and pressed sandwich shares it popularity with the Cuban style sandwiches made famous in the South Beach Miami region of Florida. Today, sandwiches using ciabatta are available at many different food chain establishments such as Jack in the Box and Einstein Bros Bagels.
Whatever its origins, ciabatta bread has become a popular bread that can be found as the bases for sandwiches or a perfect accompaniment to Italian dishes all around the world.
FAQs
Ciabatta in Italian means “Slipper” due to the shape of the bread resembling one. Ciabatta is a white bread that stems from a baker in Rovigo, Veneto, Italy. The Ciabatta was invented in 1982 due to an overwhelming affinity towards french baguettes, which had taken Europe by storm.
Is ciabatta bread healthy to eat? ›
A. Yes, it is. If you consume ciabatta in moderation and with the right foods, it can offer various health benefits. Ciabatta contains multiple essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins such as carbohydrates, proteins, iron, sodium, and vitamins B1 and B3.
What makes ciabatta special? ›
Ciabatta is somewhat elongated, broad, and flat, and is baked in many variations, although unique for its alveolar holes. Ciabatta is made with a strong flour and uses a very high hydration dough.
Can type 2 diabetics eat ciabatta bread? ›
The whole wheat, calcium, and fiber found in ciabatta bread can aid in proper digestion, prevent type 2 diabetes, and promote bone health (although not all ciabatta is made from whole wheat).
What is a random fact about bread? ›
They revered it so much they would often place it in the tombs of their dead.
- The ancient Greeks were already producing more than 80 types of bread in 2500 B.C.
- Bread was so important to the Egyptian way of life that it was used as a type of currency. ...
- Bakers were powerful credit brokers during the Middle Ages in France.
: CIABATTA BREAD
| Name | Amount | Unit |
|---|
| Energy | 250 | kcal |
| Protein | 8.93 | g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0 | g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 51.79 | g |
10 more rowsSourdough bread is healthier than traditional ciabatta bread. Ciabatta bread is a popular type of Italian bread, and therefore, is less nutritious than sourdough bread due to the leavening agent used. However, if you are searching for a healthier ciabatta bread, you can choose one made with sourdough or whole grains.
When should I eat ciabatta? ›
Ciabatta is best eaten on the day of purchase but it does keep for a couple of days in a bread bin. When still fresh, it can be frozen for a couple of months.
How do Italians eat ciabatta? ›
In Italy, ciabatta is eaten in many ways. Popular variations with the Italians are to sprinkle a slice of the bread with good-quality olive oil, dip pieces broken off the loaf in pasta or salad sauce, or treat themselves to a panini filled with salami, mozzarella or Parma ham.
Should ciabatta be hard or soft? ›
Baking Soft Ciabatta
You're looking for an internal temperature of 200°F for doneness. When the ciabatta is done it will have a light golden brown crust peeking out around the edges under the flour. Right out of the oven, the ciabatta loaves will feel hard to the touch.
The theory goes that this rustic bread was the result of accidentally adding too much water to a dough and then continuing the baking process anyway. The final result was a flat and long baked good with an open crumb cell structure, named ciabatta.
Is ciabatta bread ok for high cholesterol? ›
Most of the components of ciabatta bread fall under a typical ingredient list, including such items as sugar, salt and yeast, but recipes do generally call for olive oil as well, which is a highly nutritious type of oil that offers healthy monounsaturated fat that has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels.
Is ciabatta bread OK for kidney disease? ›
Suitable bread types
White or brown pan loaf, baguettes, pitta bread, ciabatta, chapattis, white or granary bread rolls are all suitable. Your dietitian will decide if you can eat wholemeal bread based on your blood levels. Sourdough bread is not a suitable bread as it is high in phosphate.
What is the best bread for lower sugar? ›
When deciding which breads to buy and which to avoid, make sure you read the nutritional information thoroughly. The American Diabetes Association recommends choosing whole grain bread or 100 percent whole wheat bread instead of white bread. White bread is made from highly processed white flour and added sugar.
How old is ciabatta bread? ›
Ciabatta is an Italian bread that was first produced back in 1982 by Arnaldo Cavallari. Cavallari was a miller and baker near Venice. During this time the French Baguettes were very popular and bakeries wanted to develop a product that would be able to compete with a baguette.
What is ciabatta also known as? ›
The EASIEST Way To Make Ciabatta. Emma Fontanella's Easiest No-Knead Ciabatta. In the region of Italy where it was created, ciabatta is known as “Il pane con buco” — “the bread with big holes”.
What is a fun fact about brown bread? ›
In fact, as Colman Andrews recounted in his cookbook The Country Cooking of Ireland, in some parts of Ireland, brown bread was so associated with poverty that schoolchildren who had it in their lunch used to eat it on the way to school to avoid the noontime taunting of their peers.
What are the facts about Italian bread? ›
Italian bread dough is typically wetter than other doughs because it uses more liquid (water or milk) and fat (butter or olive oil). Despite its savory flavor, many Italian bread recipes do use sugar. Traditionally, Italian bread is baked on a stone to give it that signature thin crisp crust, golden brown in color.
