Ciabatta facts for kids
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| Type | Bread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Region or state | Veneto |
| Main ingredients | Wheat flour or whole wheat flour, water, yeast, salt |
Ciabatta (say "cha-BAH-tah") is a popular Italian white bread. Its name means "slipper" in Italian, because of its flat, wide shape. This special bread was created in 1982 in Adria, Italy. It was made to be an Italian answer to the popular French baguettes.
Ciabatta bread is known for its many air bubbles inside. It is made with a strong type of wheat flour and a very wet dough. This makes it different from many other traditional breads.
You might have heard of panini. Outside of Italy, this word often means a toasted sandwich made with small ciabatta loaves. In Italy, panino just means any kind of sandwich, no matter what bread is used.
Contents
The Story of Ciabatta Bread
Ciabatta bread was first made in 1982 by a baker named Arnaldo Cavallari. He lived in an area of Italy called Polesine. So, he first called his new bread ciabatta polesana.
Why Ciabatta Was Created
At the time, many people in Italy were buying sandwiches made with French baguettes. Italian bakers, like Cavallari, were worried this would hurt their businesses. They wanted to create a special Italian bread that could be used for sandwiches instead.
Cavallari spent many weeks trying different traditional bread recipes. He finally found the perfect mix. His recipe used a soft, wet dough with lots of gluten. Gluten is a protein in flour that helps dough stretch and rise.
Ciabatta in Italy
Many regions in Italy now have their own versions of ciabatta. These breads are similar to the original recipe.
- Near Lake Como, ciabatta often has a crispy crust. It has a soft, airy inside and feels light.
- In areas like Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche, ciabatta can be different. Some have a firm crust and a dense inside. Others have a crisper crust and more open texture.
- In Rome, ciabatta is sometimes flavored with marjoram, a type of herb.
New kinds of ciabatta are still being made. For example, ciabatta integrale is made with wholemeal flour. If milk is added to the dough, it becomes ciabatta al latte.
Ciabatta Around the World
Ciabatta bread quickly became popular outside of Italy.
Coming to Other Countries
- In 1985, ciabatta was brought to the United Kingdom by a store called Marks & Spencer.
- In 1987, it arrived in the United States. An American company called Orlando Bakery introduced it.
Three Italian bakers traveled to Orlando Bakery. They helped the company learn how to make ciabatta for many people. They successfully made fresh ciabatta and later a frozen version. Soon, many other bakeries in the U.S. started making their own ciabatta.
How it's Made Elsewhere
The ciabatta often found in the United States has a very open, airy inside. It is made from a very wet dough. This dough often needs special machines to mix it. Bakers might also use a special starter mix, like a biga or sourdough starter. These starters are special doughs that help the main dough rise and give it flavor.
See also
In Spanish: Ciabatta para niños
