Easy Ciabatta Bread

Begin by adding water, olive oil, bread flour, salt, sugar, and yeast to a bread machine in the specified order. If your machine has unique requirements, follow those instructions instead. Set the machine to run the Dough cycle, which typically takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Once the cycle is completed, carefully remove the dough from the machine. At this stage, it will be quite damp and sticky; resist the urge to add more flour as this can alter the texture of your bread. Transfer the dough onto a well-floured surface, cover it with a large bowl or greased plastic wrap, and allow it to rest for 15 minutes.

Prepare two baking sheets by lightly dusting them with flour or lining them with parchment paper. Divide the dough into two equal portions and shape each portion into a 3x14-inch oval loaf. Place the loaves onto the prepared baking sheets and lightly dust with flour to prevent sticking. Cover them and let rise in a warm, draft-free area for approximately 45 minutes.

Next, preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). To add a touch of moisture, lightly spritz the loaves with water before placing them on the middle rack of the preheated oven. Bake until golden brown, taking around 25 to 30 minutes.