Ingredients

Starter:

200g Ciabatta flour

200ml warm water

5g of fresh yeast, crumbled

Dough:

10g fresh yeast, crumbled

450g Ciabbata flour

15g sea salt

325g warm water

50g Olive oil

Semolina for dusting

Bakewell / Baking parchment

Method

Prepare the starter 12-24 hrs beforehand, cover with cling film & leave at room temperature.

Put all the dough ingredients into a large bowl & add the starter. Mix using your hand like a claw.

Turn onto a lightly floured worktop & knead until elastic.

Put into a lightly oiled bowl, drizzle lightly with olive oil & cover. Leave it to bulk rise for 1-2 hours.

When the dough is light & airy, tip onto a floured worktop & gently shape into a rectangle, using your fingers to gently dimple the surface. DO NOT knead or stretch. Flour the top surface and cut the dough into 4 equal size rectangles. On each piece - fold the 2 ends into the middle, then fold in the 2 long sides.

Cut 2 generously sized pieces of Baking Parchment, putting a piece on each of 2 baking trays, dusting well with fine semolina or flour. Pull up a ridge in the centre lengthwise on each piece of parchment. This is to keep them separate.

As you transfer each piece to the parchment, turn the ciabbatta's seam side down. Dust each piece with fine semolina or flour. Cover with a piece of muslin or a tea towel & leave to prove for 45 minutes.

Pre-heat your oven to Gas Mark 6, or Electric 220c. If using an Aga, use the Roasting Oven.

To Bake:

Dust with semolina & give each piece a gentle stretch by holding both ends and elongating the middle.

Spray the inside of the oven with cold water to create steam. Slide in your baking tray & bake for 17-20 minutes until golden, then cool on a wire rack.