Chef John's No-Knead Ciabatta

This bread is the perfect marriage of a crisp, light crust outside and a chewy yet tender inside. The no-knead part is just a bonus.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 273 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal
• ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast
• 3 ½ cups white bread flour
• ½ cup whole wheat bread flour

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

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

Step 2

Place white and wheat flour in a large bowl. Add salt, yeast, and water. Mix until a wet sticky dough comes together, about 5 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl. Cover with foil. Allow dough to rise for 18 hours at room temperature. It should not be too warm.

Step 3

Punch dough down with a spatula and fold it over a few times.

Step 4

Lightly grease a heavy-rimmed baking sheet with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with cornmeal.

Step 5

Lightly spray a work surface with water. Place a long sheet of plastic wrap on the damp surface to hold it in place. Sprinkle plastic wrap with flour. Scrape the dough onto the floured surface. Sprinkle flour on top of the dough. Gently stretch and pull dough into a long, flat rectangular shape, 12 to 15 inches long. Bring plastic sheet to edge of prepared pan and flip the dough into the prepared pan. Reshape the dough, if necessary. Dust with flour. Cover with a light dry towel. Let rise about 2 hours.

Step 6

Bake dough in preheated oven until loaf is nicely browned, 35 to 45 minutes.