Ciabatta Rolls

By KimberlyB

Ingredients

• Starter
• 1 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 1 cup cool water
• 1/16 teaspoon instant yeast
• Dough
• all of the starter (from above)
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons Baker's Special Dry Milk or nonfat dry milk
• 2/3 cup lukewarm water
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

Details

Preparation time 25mins
Cooking time 1145mins

Preparation

Step 1

1) To make the starter: Mix the starter ingredients in a small bowl until well combined. Cover the starter and let it rest at room temperature overnight, or for up to 15 hours. It will become bubbly.

2) Place all of the dough ingredients, including the starter, into the bowl of your mixer, and beat at medium speed, using the flat beater, for 7 minutes. The dough will be very smooth, soft, shiny, and elastic. Alternatively, knead the dough ingredients in your bread machine using the dough cycle.

3) Transfer the dough to a greased bowl or other rising container, cover it, and let it rise for 2 hours, deflating it midway through. If you're using a bread machine, allow it to rise for an additional hour after the dough cycle has ended.

4) Lightly grease your work surface, and two half-sheet baking pans (18" x 13") or similar large baking sheets. Grease your hands, as well.

5) Turn the dough out of the bowl onto a lightly greased work surface.

6) Divide the dough into 12 pieces, about 80g (2 1/4 ounces) each. Round each into a ball. Gently stretch the balls into flattened disks, about 3 1/2" wide.

7) Transfer the rolls to the baking sheets, leaving about 3" between them.

8) Lightly cover the rolls with heavily oiled plastic wrap or a proof cover, and allow them to rise for 2 to 3 hours, or until they're showing some signs of puffiness. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 425°F.

9) Spritz the risen rolls with lukewarm water, and gently but firmly dimple each one with your fingers, making fairly deep pockets.

10) Immediately place the rolls into the oven. Bake them until they're golden brown, about 18 to 20 minutes. Remove them from the oven, and cool on a rack.

11) Slice crosswise, and add your favorite fillings. Store any leftovers, tightly wrapped, at room temperature. Rolls may be reheated just before serving, if desired; tent lightly with foil, and heat for about 8 minutes in a 350°F oven.