Kit Bashir<p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/Ciabatta" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Ciabatta</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/Recipe" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Recipe</span></a> (a fusion of a number of techniques from youtubers):</p><p>We are using 500g of flour (about 2.5 cups) and 500ml of water. 2tsp of yeast, 2tsp of salt. This will make two ciabatta. Double the proportions if you desire (you can keep the Biga at 1cup if you double)</p><p>Biga pre-ferment: Mix 1 cup of flour, 1/2tsp of yeast and 1/2cup of water in a mixing jug or small bowl. Stir until it forms a ball. Maybe pick up the ball and work it until doughy. Cover jug/bowl with cling film and leave it for 12-24 hours at room temperature.</p><p>Next day:</p><p>Put the Biga and remaining flour (around 1.5 cups) in the mixer. Add remaining (1.5tsp) yeast and a cup of water. Using a dough hook attachment, start the mixer on lowest speed. Once it comes together add 2tsp salt and remaining water (about 1/2 cup). Weigh the ingredients unless you’re confident you know how much a cup of your flour weighs. Scrape the mixer bowl until everything comes together.</p><p>This dough, at 100% hydration (1:1 proportion of flour:water) is going to be a gooey mess!</p><p>Once the ingredients come together run your mixer at 2nd lowest speed for 10 minutes.</p><p>Turn the dough-goo out into a bowl, cover bowl with cling film and leave it to rest for 45min. </p><p>Put your oven on max heat (250c) and put a cast iron skillet on the bottom shelf, and pizza stone or two on the top shelf. (A baking steel, or heavy pan, if you don't have a stone). </p><p>Flour up your work surface, and flour up the top of the dough. Turn it out of the bowl, it'll still be pretty sticky. </p><p>Cut two pieces of baking paper. Form the dough into a square and cut it in half. Place your fingers under each blob and slide it over onto the paper like Ambo's moving a patient. </p><p>Leave the loaves to prove on the benchtop for at least 30 mins. The well floured loaves shouldn't need covering.</p><p>After the 30min proving, and when the oven is hot, boil the kettle. While the kettle boils, slide a pizza lifter or bread paddle under the paper, and transfer each loaf, paper and all to the baking stone. </p><p>Carefully pour one cup of boiling water into the hot skillet on the shelf below the loaves (this will make steam, which aids the crust formation). Turn the oven down to 230C.</p><p>Bake for 15mins. Knock the loaves to see how they sound. If the bottom is still soft, flip them over (remove the paper, try not to set it on fire like I did) and bake five more minutes. Depending on shape, total baking time may be 15-30mins. Look for that hollow sound when you knock the loaf.</p><p>Remove and nom. Works best if you cut a square and then cut the square in half through the center, giving you two pieces you can toast or slather in decadent topping of your choice.</p><p>Key inspiration: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGDujTiqd7Q" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">youtube.com/watch?v=yGDujTiqd7</span><span class="invisible">Q</span></a><br>Confidence from ChainBaker: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xk0sMXc7NQ" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">youtube.com/watch?v=2xk0sMXc7N</span><span class="invisible">Q</span></a><br>Excellent Background: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9tPXTlbYxM" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">youtube.com/watch?v=v9tPXTlbYx</span><span class="invisible">M</span></a><br>No knead cold ferment alternative: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DClZNBkbbQs&t=213s" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">youtube.com/watch?v=DClZNBkbbQ</span><span class="invisible">s&t=213s</span></a></p>