Quick and easy Ciabatta

This really is very simple to make, and produces lovely bread with a crispy crust and chewy, airy centre. I made rolls as I wanted them for burgers but you could equally make a more traditional oblong shaped loaf. 

Ingredients

500g strong white bread flour plus extra for dusting

450ml lukewarm water

7g sachet fast action yeast

1tsp sugar

1tsp salt

1 tbsp olive oil

Method

1. Place the flour, sugar, salt and yeast in a bowl and mix it together briefly with your hands.

2. Pour in the water and mix together with your hands, it's messy work! But half of the fun! 

3. The mixture will be very wet, so rather than kneading it, keeping the dough in the bowl, stretch it upwards then drop it back down into the bowl to both develop the gluten and help start creating some nice big air holes. Do this for 5-10 minutes, you will be able to feel it get a little more elastic.

4. Pour over 1tbsp olive oil so it just covers the dough, cover the bowl in cling film then leave to rise in a warm place for an hour.

5. Preheat the oven to 200C fan, Prepare a baking sheet by sprinkling it with flour. Also prepare a large bowl or deep baking tray by filling it 1cm deep with flour.

6. Once the dough has doubled in size, with floured hands, shape the dough in your hands, taking care not to knock too much air out, roll it in the flour then place on the baking sheet. I made rolls by taking handfuls at a time and rolling them in the flour but you could create different shapes if you wish. 

7. Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden and they sound hollow when tapped underneath.

Enjoy!