Sourdough Ciabatta
Sourdough ciabatta is an artisan Italian bread made with sourdough starter, bread flour, olive oil and a touch of yeast. The Thermomix TM7 kneads the sticky, wet dough to develop the gluten needed for that characteristic open crumb. Crispy crust, airy interior and a tangy flavour make it ideal for sandwiches or bruschetta.
About this recipe
Sourdough ciabatta with the Thermomix TM7 brings genuine Italian bakery character into your own kitchen. This recipe combines a mature sourdough starter with bread flour, water, extra virgin olive oil, salt and a pinch of active dry yeast, producing the classic wet dough that gives ciabatta its famously airy, open crumb and crisp crust. Searching for a sourdough ciabatta recipe for your all-in-one kitchen machine often leads to complicated hand-kneading methods, but the TM7 takes over the heavy work: it kneads the slack dough until the gluten network is smooth and elastic, something that is genuinely tiring by hand. The built-in scale weighs the flour and water directly into the mixing bowl, so hydration stays accurate batch after batch. Serve this bread alongside soup, slice it for sandwiches, or toast it with olive oil for a quick weekend lunch. With a tangy depth from the starter and a tender interior, this homemade loaf turns any meal into a small Italian feast.
Preparation tips
- Use a lively, recently fed sourdough starter at room temperature; a sluggish starter gives a dense crumb. The pinch of active dry yeast supports the rise, but the starter provides the signature tangy flavour of this ciabatta.
- Handle the dough gently with well-oiled hands or a dough scraper, since it is deliberately wet. Fold it on a floured surface rather than kneading, to preserve the air bubbles that create the open crumb.
- Bake on a preheated baking stone or tray with steam for the crispiest crust. Leftover ciabatta keeps loosely wrapped for a day and revives beautifully after a short burst in a hot oven.
Recipe variations
- Herb and olive variation: fold chopped rosemary and Kalamata olives into the dough before the final proof for a Mediterranean loaf that pairs beautifully with antipasti or a simple tomato salad.
- Seeded wholegrain variation: replace part of the bread flour with wholemeal flour and add sunflower and flax seeds; expect a nuttier flavour and slightly denser crumb, ideal for hearty breakfast toast.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Weighing flour and water directly in the mixing bowl, the TM7 keeps the high hydration of this ciabatta dough accurate for a consistent open crumb. [Built-in Scale]
- Kneading the sticky sourdough dough hands-free, the Thermomix develops the gluten in the bread flour until smooth and elastic without tired arms. [Hands-Free]
- Mixing the sourdough starter with water and olive oil, the TM7 blends the wet ingredients into an even base in seconds. [Multi-Function]
- Heating gently at a controlled low temperature, the Thermomix creates the ideal warm spot for the yeast and starter to activate before baking. [Precision Control]
- Grinding coarse sea salt finely in the TM7 ensures it dissolves evenly throughout the ciabatta dough for balanced seasoning in every slice. [Built-in Scale]
Ingredients
- extra virgin olive oil
- water
- sourdough starter
- bread flour
- extra virgin olive oil
- bread flour
- water
- salt
- active dry yeast