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Home » Bread » Savory Bread

Easy Ciabatta Rolls

Published: May 13, 2022 · Modified: May 13, 2022 by Emma · This post may contain affiliate links, which can earn us a commission.

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Have you ever tried ciabatta bread?  This rustic Italian bread tastes amazing when made into a sandwich--which is why I made mine in individual rolls instead of the traditional elongated loaves.  I've skipped the biga, or overnight starter, to speed up the process, so these rolls can be on your table tonight!

Love homemade rolls for sandwiches? Check out these great recipes for Waterford blaa buns and Mexican telera rolls.

person holding half of a ciabatta roll
Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe

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Ingredients

glass bowls of ingredients for ciabatta rolls

Curious what ingredients you'll need to make ciabatta rolls? You'll only need 5 simple ingredients to whip up a batch of this delicious homemade bread!

  • Bread Flour: It's really important that you use bread flour for this recipe. It has a higher protein content than all-purpose, which will create more gluten. This strengthens the ciabatta's structure, enabling it to rise better and have a chewy texture.
  • Yeast: I like to use fast-action (aka instant) yeast because it allows me to skip the 10-minute blooming in warm water and sugar that active dry requires. Feel free to use whichever type you prefer.
  • Salt: This ingredient adds flavor and keeps the yeast from working too quickly. Use fine table salt so it will incorporate easily into the mixture.
  • Olive Oil: This adds a little richness and flavor.
  • Water: This ciabatta is almost at 100% hydration, so you'll need almost equal weights of water and flour. Although this makes it super sticky, it is a must if you want the open crumb structure ciabatta is known for.

How to Make

mixing up the bread dough in a mixing bowl
  1. Pour the flour into a mixing bowl, then add the salt and yeast on opposite sides and stir each one in with your finger.
  2. Add the oil and water, mixing until a very sticky mixture forms. It should have the consistency of a very thick batter.
rested and kneaded ciabatta dough

3. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let the dough rest for 30 minutes.

4. Knead for 4-5 minutes with the paddle attachment on low speed. It's kneaded enough when it can stretch 3-4 inches without breaking. (Do not try to knead by hand; it's far too sticky for that! Also, don't add flour during the kneading.)

risen and shaped ciabatta dough

5. Pour the dough into a greased 9x13-inch cake pan and cover with greased plastic wrap. Let it rise at room temperature until it's at least doubled in size, about 2 hours.

6. Shape the rolls on a very generously floured cutting board and place gently on a parchment-lined tray. Let the rolls rise for 20-30 minutes, or until they barely spring back when prodded.

baked ciabatta rolls on a cooling rack and on a plate

7. Bake at 415°F for 15-20 minutes, or until the rolls are browned. Let the rolls cool for 30 minutes on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

8. Use these ciabatta rolls to make your favorite sandwiches, or enjoy them spread with butter or with a bowl of soup.

Recipe FAQs

What makes ciabatta different from bread?

The biggest difference is that ciabatta is made from a much wetter dough. Ciabatta can be 90-100% hydration, which means there's almost as much water in the recipe as flour by weight. The higher hydration allows the air pockets inside to be much larger and more irregular, creating the distinctive appearance ciabatta is well known for.

What is ciabatta bread good for?

Ciabatta rolls make wonderful sandwiches, as almost any flavorful filling goes well with them--especially Italian meats and cheeses. Other ways to use ciabatta rolls are to serve along with soup and salad, or simply to tear it into smaller pieces and dip into a bowl of extra virgin olive oil with freshly cracked black pepper.

What does a ciabatta taste like?

Ciabatta tastes very similar to other white breads. What makes it unique is its thin, crispy crust and its airy and chewy texture. Ciabatta made with a biga (overnight starter) or sourdough will have a distinct sour flavor, unlike those traditionally leavened.

Are ciabatta rolls good for you?

Ciabatta rolls are healthy when eaten in moderation. This recipe contains basic, all-natural ingredients: white flour, salt, yeast, olive oil, and water. One individual-sized roll is 207 calories, and contains 6.3g of protein and only 3.7g of fat. See the nutrition information at the end of this post for more details.

Expert Tips

  • Use a stand mixer.  The dough is incredibly wet and sticky, and will be difficult to work with by hand.
  • Prove slowly.  This ensures a good flavor in the rolls.  If it's rising too fast in a hot room, you can even refrigerate it.
  • Is the risen dough falling?  This is a sign that you should start shaping the rolls right away.
  • Use lots of flour on the work surface when shaping the rolls, or it will deflate the rolls and make a mess.
  • Don't have cornmeal?  Use semolina or grits instead.

More Savory Bread Recipes You'll Love

  • Pane Bianco Recipe
  • Hoagie Rolls Recipe
  • Pretzel Buns Recipe
  • Waterford Blaas (Irish Rolls)

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Recipe

stack of ciabatta rolls on a white plate

Easy Ciabatta Rolls

These chewy homemade ciabatta rolls will make any sandwich taste amazing!  It's a rustic Italian bread that’s crisp outside and soft inside, making it ultra delicious.
5 from 5 votes
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Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: ciabatta recipe, ciabatta rolls
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Proving Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 10 large buns
Calories: 220kcal
Author: Emma

Ingredients
 

  • 4 ⅛ cups bread flour
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons fast-action yeast
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups room-temperature water
  • Cornmeal and extra flour for dusting
US Imperial - Metric

Equipment

  • stand mixer
  • 9x13-inch cake pan
  • pastry brush
  • bench scraper

Instructions

Making the Dough

  • Dump the bread flour into the bowl of a stand mixer.  Add the salt and yeast on opposite sides of the bowl, then stir in each one with your finger.  The salt can kill or slow down the yeast's growth if it touches the yeast directly.
  • Pour the olive oil and half of the water onto the flour and begin mixing with the paddle attachment on low speed.  Trickle in the remaining water until the mixture is extremely sticky and is about the consistency of a very thick batter.  You might not need all the water.
  • Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  • Knead on medium speed with the paddle attachment for about 4-5 minutes, until the dough can stretch 3-4 inches without breaking.
  • Lightly grease a rectangular plastic container or 9x13-inch pan with olive oil, then pour the dough into the container.  Cover with greased plastic wrap and allow to prove at room temperature until at least doubled in size, about 2 hours.

Shaping the Buns

  • Preheat the oven to 415°F.  Line two 11 by 17-inch cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • Generously dust a large wooden cutting board with a thick layer of bread flour and semolina.  Carefully turn the plastic container upside down and gently pour the dough onto the floured board.
  • Cut the dough in half lengthwise with a bench scraper, then cut each long piece into five smaller pieces to get ten buns.  Handle the dough very gently to keep as much air in it as possible.  Flour the scraper and your hands as needed, since the dough will be extremely sticky.
  • Roughly shape each piece into a square, then gently transfer the buns to the prepared trays.  You should have 5 rolls on each tray. Don't worry if they look flat; they'll puff up as they prove and bake.  Leave the buns to prove for 20-30 minutes; they will noticeably increase in size.
  • Bake each tray one at a time for about 15-20 minutes each.  The buns should be crisp, nicely browned, and have an internal temperature of at least 200°F.
  • Let the buns cool completely on a wire rack, then serve.  Store leftover buns in a zip-top bag at room temperature, or freeze for later.

Notes

  • Be sure to use bread flour and not all-purpose for this recipe.  You will not get the best results with AP.
  • It's best to use a stand mixer to make the dough, since it's so sticky.
  • The key to a good ciabatta is a slow prove.  If the dough is rising too quickly, put it in a cool place or even in the refrigerator.  A long prove gives the dough a much better flavor, and for ciabatta, an irregular, open crumb structure means it will have larger air holes.
  • Make sure to immediately start shaping the buns if your risen dough starts to fall.
  • If you don't have semolina flour in your cupboard, cornmeal or grits will work just as well for dusting the work surfaces.

Nutrition

Calories: 220kcal (11%)Carbohydrates: 39g (13%)Protein: 7g (14%)Fat: 4g (6%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 476mg (21%)Potassium: 78mg (2%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 1g (1%)Vitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 10mg (1%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

This recipe was originally published on July 12, 2018 and was updated on February 25, 2020. It was republished on May 13, 2022 with updated photos and refreshed content.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathy

    June 11, 2020 at 2:42 pm

    I just made these rolls for the first time. Loved how easy it was. They came out looking wonderful. Can't wait for dinner. Thanks so much for this recipe

    Reply
    • Emma

      June 12, 2020 at 6:26 am

      You're very welcome, Kathy! I hope you enjoyed the ciabatta rolls.

      Reply
  2. Cheryl

    May 18, 2020 at 8:17 pm

    I need clarification about baking the rolls. You state bake rolls one at a time. Wouldn't that cause five of the rolls to be over proofed?

    Reply
    • Emma

      May 19, 2020 at 6:22 am

      The recipe states to bake one tray at a time, not each roll individually. This is because the bread doesn't cook as well if both trays are in the oven at the same time. Hope this helps, Cheryl!

      Reply
      • CHERYL

        May 21, 2020 at 2:36 pm

        Although I didn't state it, I meant one tray at a time. I assume these rolls should be covered while proving? Thank you.

        Reply
        • Emma

          May 21, 2020 at 6:32 pm

          Yes, you can cover them if you wish. Although I usually do cover breads while they are proving to prevent a tough skin from forming on the surface, I find that these ciabatta rolls prove well even without a cover. The baking time is short enough that the second tray should not be over proved. If you want to slow down the prove, you can always poke the second tray in the fridge while the first one bakes.

          Reply
          • CHERYL

            May 22, 2020 at 1:04 pm

            Sorry for so many questions, but should I allow them to prove again once removed from the refrigerator?

          • Emma

            May 22, 2020 at 5:10 pm

            No problem, Cheryl! If the buns are springy to the touch, they're ready to bake. The rolls will continue to prove in the fridge; just at a slower pace. Always go by the spring test, not just by time or size.

  3. Erma

    April 28, 2020 at 9:03 pm

    Can I use active dry yeast instead in instant?

    Reply
    • Emma

      April 29, 2020 at 7:16 am

      Yes, you can use active dry instead. Warm the water in the recipe a little in the microwave, add a teaspoon of sugar and the yeast, and stir to dissolve. Let the mixture stand for until frothy and foamy, about 10 minutes. Then, add the yeast mixture to your ciabatta dough.

      Reply
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Welcome to our kitchen! We're Brooke & Emma, the mother-daughter team behind Savor the Flavour. As self-taught cooks and bakers, we love to inspire you to cook from scratch with real food for your family. Increase your kitchen confidence with our tempting recipes, instructional photos, and helpful tips and facts.

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