These Ciabatta Bread Rolls taste just like they would if you bought them in a real Italian bakery! Soft on the inside with a chewy exterior, they’re perfect for making the ultimate sandwich!
If there’s one meal I love it’s a sandwich, but not just on ordinary plain bread. I love chewy bread with a slightly burnt taste to it, something like a French boule – or better still, these Italian Ciabatta Bread Rolls.
Making these homemade ciabatta rolls
These rolls are so simple to make, as are most bread products. I always say that the hardest part is waiting for the yeast to do its magic. Once that reaction has taken place then you can get your bread fired and fill the kitchen with that toasty smell, just like the scratch bakery where I learned my trade.
What’s the best yeast to use?
Of course, a lot depends on the yeast process, so I use Red Star Yeast. They have a few varieties to try, and each one works best for a particular recipe. For these ciabatta rolls, I used their Platinum Yeast. It never fails and always gives me amazing results!
Making ciabatta bread rolls isn’t an instant kind of thing, so if you’re short on time then you might want to make something else. This recipe takes a bit longer because it requires making a small dough mixture 24 hours ahead of time.
This is called the “biga” and it’s the same idea as the starters used in some other bread recipes. You just add the biga to the main recipe and it gives you the crucial airy interior that ciabatta is famous for.
The end result should be a great chewy crust and a light interior full of holes, perfect for dipping in some olive oil or making a toasted Caprese panini!
Visit the Red Star Yeast Pinterest page for more ideas and recipes for all things yeast related. If you run into problems, you can always use the troubleshooting guide to answer any questions you might have!
Here are a few other awesome bread recipes you might be interested in!
Cinnamon Crumb Breakfast Bread
This was a sponsored post for Red Star Yeast. Compensation was provided but as always, thoughts and ideas are 100% my own.
*This post has been updated with new photography*
Ingredients
- For The Starter Dough:
- 1/4 teaspoon Red Star Platinum Yeast
- 1 cup warm water not hot
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup regular temperature water
- For The Second Stage Dough:
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoons Red Star Platinum Yeast
- 2 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- The biga starter from the previous day
- Cornmeal for dusting your baking sheets or pizza stone.
Instructions
-
Combine the 1/4 teaspoon yeast with the first cup of water and dissolve. Let stand for 10 minutes.
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Take one teaspoon of this water and add it to the 3/4 cup regular water. Dispose the first yeast water.
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In a medium sized bowl, add the flour and water and mix together to form a stiff dough.
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Cover with plastic wrap and leave on the counter overnight.
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Next day combine the flour, yeast and salt in a bowl.
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Add the water and mix gently. Add the biga from the previous day and mix it through the dough.
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Squeeze the biga to break it up, it'll still be slightly stringy and chunky but the dough will get smoother.
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The dough will be sticky, dump it onto a well floured surface and dust again with flour. Carefully turn it over multiple times to knead it adding just enough flour to prevent it sticking. A dough scraper is an excellent tool to use for this task.
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Transfer the dough to a large bowl which has been coated with olive oil. Cover again and let sit for about three hours or until the dough has doubled in size.
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Dump the dough back out onto a floured surface and fold it in three times like folding a letter. Cut into roughly 9 square pieces. Transfer each piece to a towel which has been heavily dusted with flour seam side down.
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Let the rolls sit covered for another hour. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and dust a pizza stone or some baking trays with a little cornmeal.
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After an hour, carefully flip the rolls over transferring them to the stone or baking trays finishing seam side up.
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Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes ending with a nice golden color on the top and bottom of the rolls.
Recipe Notes
The dough will be sticky, handle it quickly but gently, using flour to prevent it sticking to your hands too much. These rolls are rustic so don't worry too much about the size or shape being uniformed.
Tieghan says
July 28, 2014 at 5:46 amThese could not look more perfect. So impressed!
foodnessgracious says
July 29, 2014 at 12:55 pmAs am I with your work Tieghan! :)
Matt Robinson says
July 28, 2014 at 8:59 amI’m impressed Gerry, these look incredible!!
foodnessgracious says
July 29, 2014 at 12:54 pmThanks Matt..love making some bread!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
July 28, 2014 at 9:07 amThey look perfectly perfect! Good work, Gerry.
foodnessgracious says
July 29, 2014 at 12:54 pmThanks Angie, I love working with dough :)
Nicole says
July 28, 2014 at 6:03 pmLooks delicious! Can wait to try it. Why do you do the final raising on a towel and not the counter?
foodnessgracious says
July 29, 2014 at 12:53 pmHi Nicole, it’s just to prevent the dough from sticking on the bottom and it’s easier to transfer to the final baking pan by lifting the towel around your fingers and hands :)
Julie @ Lovely Little Kitchen says
July 29, 2014 at 6:21 amYep, they’re perfect! Very nice post Gerry!
foodnessgracious says
July 29, 2014 at 12:53 pmThanks Julie!
Mary Frances says
July 29, 2014 at 2:57 pmExcellent, they look perfect!
Janet says
July 30, 2014 at 12:24 amI just adore the crunchy crust of these rolls. Have you ever made them with sourdough starter? If not would it be possible do you think.
foodnessgracious says
July 30, 2014 at 8:13 amHi Janet, I’m not sure about the starter. I think you’d still end up with a great textured roll but not sure which it would taste like more..sour or ciabatta? Try it and let me know :)
sippitysup says
August 1, 2014 at 4:18 pmHmm. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but I suck at bread. Pizza dough however I can handle. I see similarities. So maybe, just maybe. GREG
foodnessgracious says
August 3, 2014 at 11:58 amI find that hard to believe Greg! This dough is much softer than pizza dough though :)
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
August 2, 2014 at 10:00 amI definitely making these for my family this summer!
foodnessgracious says
August 3, 2014 at 11:58 amThey make great sandwiches Lori :)
leslie says
March 31, 2015 at 6:54 amCould you tell me if i can freeze these before i cook them in case i don’t want to cook them all?
foodnessgracious says
March 31, 2015 at 10:02 amSorry but the yeast would be killed off and they would never rise again, you could make them a freeze after baking :)
leslie says
April 3, 2015 at 4:58 amThank you for the info and the quick response. Can’t wait to try them.
Bouch says
June 14, 2016 at 9:36 amCook them just half way through then freeze them. you could finish cooking them when needed they will taste fresher
keren says
April 29, 2015 at 10:16 amdo you fold each role ( apter splitting to nine pieces) before placing on the towel?
what do you mean by seam side down? the towel’s seam or the rolls’s seam?
foodnessgracious says
April 29, 2015 at 10:28 amGood question..After dividing into 9, fold each one to form a smooth side on top (like a very gentle knead) then place them on the towel with the seam of the dough laying on the towel. Hope this helps :)
Anonymous says
August 10, 2015 at 12:46 pmWhy do u have to dispose the first yeast water kinda seems like wasting to me
Lisa says
January 26, 2017 at 9:59 pmI would like to know this question also???
Sasha says
October 14, 2015 at 5:33 pmYum! I baked these tonight and they tasted and smelled amazing. We buttered hot rolls and dipped in brothy tomato garlic soup. Two questions: letting rolls rise on a floured towel was a fail. I think I put too many on one sheet and they rose into each other. So rolls were stuck when ready to bake. I used dough scraper and finagling to detach but it deflated them a bit. When baked they were not as holey as ciabatta should be. Was this due to botched last rise? Or did I possibly overknead? Thanks! I’ll definitely bake again.
foodnessgracious says
October 15, 2015 at 8:57 pmThanks for the feedback Sasha. It sounds like the last rise was too long. You should still be able to lift them albeit quickly but if they rise too long they have too much air in them and the slightest move will just deflate them. Next time lay them right on the baking tray and see if that helps :)
Danielle says
October 22, 2015 at 9:53 pmSo this is a silly bread newbie question but I was wondering if you meant mix by using a dough hook on a mixer or mix by hand? Thanks!
foodnessgracious says
October 22, 2015 at 10:56 pmHi Danielle, yup using a mixer with a dough hook attachment or regular beater if you don’t have the hook would work fine too.
April says
April 10, 2016 at 4:02 pmThese just came out of the oven and are DELICIOUS. The crusty outsides and warm fluffy insides- so yummy. Thanks for the recipe!
Rhonda says
May 16, 2016 at 2:00 pmHi , I have a few questions! I have never made bread before and I was wondering what “biga” means and if anyone tried adding roasted garlic to the dough and when should it be added? I love this bread and would love to attempt to make it. thank you
foodnessgracious says
May 17, 2016 at 12:34 pmHi Rhonda, a biga is a starter or initial piece of dough that will be the beginning of your dough. The garlic sounds amazing!!
Alicia Power says
May 30, 2016 at 9:51 amHi, I followed your directions to make the biga (starter dough) and this morning it looks the same as it did yesterday. A dense ball of dough. Is this correct? I thought biga was supposed to be more bubbly and less dense?
foodnessgracious says
May 30, 2016 at 10:10 amIt depends on the environment possibly, each one can be different. I’d still use it, it should be okay.
Amanda says
November 15, 2016 at 11:00 pmCan you use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour?
foodnessgracious says
November 22, 2016 at 10:30 amHi Amanda, bread flour should be just fine :)
sigrid says
March 7, 2017 at 8:23 pmI made these last week and today I am making another batch, heavenly, crunchy, tasty and soft on the inside, thank you for sharing
foodnessgracious says
March 10, 2017 at 2:13 pmFantastic, I love the feedback!!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
April 4, 2017 at 10:53 amHi, Gerry! I’ve been making ciabatta bread for years but we’ve been wanting to make the rolls. We tried the King Arthur recipe and was totally disappointed. We looked up several more and they didn’t sound like my ciabatta bread recipe. Normally we use the Red Star Instant yeast, have you used it instead of the fast-acting?
I’m really excited about making these. I’m following you on Instagram so I’ll tag you when we post. I’ve seen your name around some of the food groups I belong — nice to meet you at your home.
foodnessgracious says
April 5, 2017 at 1:18 pmThanks Marisa, hope to see them on IG soon ;)
john remington says
July 4, 2017 at 7:09 pmi tried to make this rolls twice and the hardest thing for me was transferring the rolls to the cooking sheet. I use much more yeast in the recipe because I been having a problem with the rise in my breads. When I set the the rolls to sit for an hour they seem a little limp and they just stick to everything and the rolls are really disturbed when they are transferred. Some come out and some don’t
Gaby Dalkin says
July 17, 2017 at 8:21 amLove me some carbs! These look PERFECT!
Lexi @Lexi'scleankitchen says
July 17, 2017 at 10:53 amCiabatta perfection! These look so perfect and delicious!
Maria says
July 17, 2017 at 11:04 amThese look perfect!
Erin says
July 17, 2017 at 1:41 pmThese look heavenly!
lindsay Cotter says
July 17, 2017 at 6:02 pmI think i would eat gluten just for these. WORTH IT! gah… that bread makes me swoooon!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
July 17, 2017 at 6:08 pmThey look so fluffy and dreamy! Carbohydrate heaven!
Heather Christo says
July 19, 2017 at 9:49 amYour bread is always so gorgeous Gerry!
Francis says
August 22, 2017 at 2:14 amNot sure I fully follow the towel portion of the recipe, is it necessary?
foodnessgracious says
August 22, 2017 at 4:37 pmHi Francis, the towel helps to flip them over easier than paper and won’t stick to the bread
RainDrop says
December 28, 2017 at 2:54 amI’ve baked these and they are delicious! The taste is a spot-on, they are soft, spongy and fluffy inside, the way they should be. However, they don’t have large ciabatta-like holes inside, but a lot of tiny ones. Is this a normal situation or an issue?
Mariela says
February 8, 2018 at 4:05 pmAbsolutely amazing! I added the same amount of salt in sugar. My first two trials were a failure (I have a hard time following directions 😬) but trial number three did the trick!!! Plus I double the recipe. I’m making more tomorrow!
foodnessgracious says
February 20, 2018 at 12:10 pmAwesome Mariela! Thanks for the feedback!
Marcie says
June 3, 2018 at 10:23 amI’ve made these rolls twice and they are delicious! Just what I was looking for–chewy crust, airy interior. They are not difficult to make at all. I love the disclaimer at the end about the rolls being “rustic” and not requiring any fussy shaping technique. Indeed, the rolls have a “rustic” look but the flavor and texture carry the day! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Katy B. says
January 16, 2019 at 8:43 pmSo excited to try these, they look delicious! I am new to baking bread and live at a higher altitude (6,000ft). Are there adjustments you need to make with breads? Yeast is a whole new experience for me. Thanks! :)
foodnessgracious says
January 22, 2019 at 10:00 pmHi Katy! Great question but one I’d Google, to be honest. Yeast can be tricky especially at altitude! Good luck :)
Morgan says
February 10, 2019 at 5:16 amMakes zero sense as to why you get rid of all the yeast water except 1 teaspoons. I had A hard block of flour after letting it rest overnight. I knew there was something off about this recipe when I went to make it last night but used it because I couldnt find the one I’d used previously. Very disappointed. Not even going to bother finishing it. Waste of flour and dirty dishes.
foodnessgracious says
February 12, 2019 at 12:53 pmHey Morgan, that’s the Biga that sits overnight and will become hard but will eventually break down when being mixed through the main dough.
Shellie says
May 2, 2019 at 11:38 pmI’ve made this recipe several times. I give it 5 stars. It’s SOOOO good! We use it for sandwiches, burger buns, buttered and dipped in soup, and just plain eating with butter slathered on them. They freeze very well and taste just as good after they’ve been frozen for a bit (I once found a frozen one hiding in our freezer about 5 months after I had made the first batch). Wrapped in foil and heated up in the toaster oven turns them into delicious crunchewy perfection. My go to ciabatta recipe :)