Formula Two: Ciabatta Dough

The ciabatta is a wonderfully casual Italian bread that has become a staple in artisan bakeries everywhere. The first time this formula is mixed into a slack mass of dough, you may wonder whether you have made a mistake. Do not despair! The dough is wet by design: The high water content in combination with the poolish enables the ciabatta to build its famously airy pockets and delicious flavor. While at first the wetness of the dough may be a challenge to handle, the ciabatta’s simplicity,