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Everyday Life • Food & Drink

Ciabatta

Ciabatta is an Italian white bread known for its elongated, flat shape, crisp crust, and airy interior with large holes.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Ciabatta is an Italian white bread with a flat, elongated shape and a crisp, airy interior. It was created in 1982 in Veneto, Italy.

What it is

Ciabatta is a white bread known for its slipper-like shape (the name means 'slipper' in Italian). It has a crisp crust and a porous, open crumb, achieved through a high-hydration dough.

Origin

Ciabatta was invented in 1982 by baker Arnaldo Cavallari in Adria, Veneto. It was developed as an Italian alternative to French baguettes, with a softer interior and larger holes.

Culinary use

Ciabatta is commonly used for sandwiches, panini, and bruschetta. It is also enjoyed toasted or simply with olive oil. In Canada, it is widely available in bakeries and grocery stores.

In short

  • Created in 1982 in Veneto, Italy.
  • Named for its slipper-like shape.
  • Known for crisp crust and airy, holey crumb.
  • Popular for sandwiches and panini.
Canadian angle

Ciabatta is widely available in Canadian bakeries, grocery stores, and sandwich shops, and is commonly used in Italian-inspired and casual lunch foods.

Quick questions

What is ciabatta?
Ciabatta is an Italian white bread with a flat, elongated shape, crisp crust, and airy interior.
Who created ciabatta?
Ciabatta was created by Arnaldo Cavallari in 1982.
What does ciabatta mean?
Ciabatta means 'slipper' in Italian, referring to the bread's shape.

Sources

  1. Merriam-Websterhttps://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ciabatta
    Supports: Definition as a flat oblong bread with a moist interior and crispy crust.
  2. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciabatta
    Supports: Origin, creation date, creator, shape, and etymology.
  3. Oxford Learner's Dictionarieshttps://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/ciabatta
    Supports: Meaning as a type of Italian bread in a long flat shape and name origin from Italian 'slipper'.
  4. BBC Foodhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/food/ciabatta
    Supports: Description of appearance, texture, and common culinary uses.