Pecorino-Romano Ciabatta

in Bread, Sandwich & Wraps

Domesticity and delegation – the double Ds of bread baking.

We have a super wicked weakness for bread. The yeastier, the better. Nothing makes me feel more domestic than kneading a loaf of bread. With my stand mixer. While I sit at the kitchen island flipping through this month’s Bon Appetit. Sipping on a glass of wine.

That’s delegation.

The one problem with delegation is that there’s no one else to blame when delegation results in the stand mixer launching itself off of the counter top. Luckily, KitchenAid apparently makes their mixers from some invincible, Hollywood-conceived metal… it survived the fall unscathed and finished kneading the dough. And the dent in the travertine floor is barely noticeable (or so I keep telling myself).

Google Reader brought me a gem of a yeasty goodie last week: Parmesan Ciabatta from Amber’s Delectable Delights. I finished scanning the recipe while leaning towards the kitchen – that huge chunk of Pecorino-Romano that had been sitting in the cheese drawer for far longer than it should have would be meeting an oozy end.

Pecorino-Romano Ciabatta

Chewy ciabatta bread flavored with Pecorino-Romano cheese. Substitute Parmesan for the Romano for a different take on the bread.

Ingredients

  • For the Biga (Starter):
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/8 tsp instant yeast
  • For the dough:
  • All of the starter
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 6 oz Pecorino-Romano cheese, cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 1 1/4 cup), plus extra for grating over the top of the bread

Instructions

  1. Biga: Mix all of the biga ingredients in a medium-sized bowl until well-blended. Cover the bowl, and leave it at cool room temperature for 12 to 20 hours, until the biga is very bubbly.
  2. Dough: Mix the biga and the remaining dough ingredients, except the cheese, using an electric mixer set on slow speed, for 2 to 4 minutes. Increase the speed to medium and mix for about 4 minutes; the dough should be soft and slightly sticky. Add additional water or flour if necessary. Mix in the cheese; don't worry if some pieces pop out. I didn't fully understand what this meant until I started chasing down the cubes of romano that were shooting out of my stand mixer bowl. Good stuff! Allow the dough to rise, in a greased, covered bowl, for 1 to 2 hours, until it's very puffy. Note: You can also mix this dough in a bread machine set on the dough cycle; add the diced cheese several minutes before the end of the final kneading cycle.
  3. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface, and shape it into two long loaves, about 12 x 4 inches each. I did 4 loaves, approx 6x4. Place the loaves, floured side up, onto parchment paper (if you plan to bake on an oven stone) or baking sheets. Cover the loaves with a proof cover or well-greased plastic wrap, and allow them to rise for 45 minutes, or until they're very puffy. Sprinkle them with additional grated cheese.
  4. Bake the ciabatta in a preheated 450 oven for 22 to 26 minutes, until it's golden brown. Remove it from the oven, and cool on a rack.
Yield: 2 loaves. Or four smaller loaves.

Notes

Yields: 2 loaves

Adapted from King Arthur Flour

Estimated time: 15 hours

15 comments… add one
  • That looks wonderful. I really have been craving ciabatta. I to make it this week.

  • Jess

    OMG! I love your description of delegating to the KA while you sip wine … that’s SO me! And I also only dream of living in a house as organized as The Hyper Homemakers! I’ve learned to face the fact that I’m not sure I ever will, but it’s nice to dream! 🙂

    And the bread looks awesome!

  • I’m definitely a novice when it comes to baking yeast-containing breads, so I’m truly inspired by your craftsmanship!!

  • Gracious, these sound delicious. I marked them and would love to try them this week. Yum!

  • This is on my list of breads to make! Looks delicious!

  • The KA mixer fell off the counter??!?! Wow. Thank goodness your feet weren’t in the way!
    I can see why this bread called to you…it’s doing the same for me.

  • Awesome! I have a deal for you — I’ll come clean your house and you can teach me how to take such GORGEOUS pics! K? 🙂

  • looks sooo good!

  • Your bread turned out fantastic. I am glad that you enjoyed it as much as I did. Yours looks beautiful.

  • Your bread makes me drool!

  • You’ve got to love homemade bread. Mmm, I can smell it now!

  • Melissa

    This bread turned out so amazing. We ate a whole loaf in about 15 minutes. My daughter took the second loaf home and her husband went crazy. Thanks so much. I will make this again and again. I had to use the cheese I had on hand and that was Gruyere.

  • Glad to hear your KitchenAid survived! Unfortunately the motor in mine wasn’t quite so indestructible — it gave out while kneading some bread dough.

  • d

    I made this over the weekend and we loved it. I took a slice and spread it with garlic butter, then a slice of brie. Broiled for a second until the brie melted. Heaven!!!

  • Zohar Kantor

    Hi, made the bread as indicated, came out just great…it was my first time preparing biga etc’ and I am so proud of the outcome…every body loved it. Thanks and best regards from Israel…Zohar

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