ciabatta

/tʃəˈbatə/

Other forms: ciabattas

Ciabatta is a broad, flat Italian bread that's deliciously chewy and great for sandwiches.

Ciabatta is a relatively recent invention, developed by a baker in 1982 to be the Italian version of the baguette. These two loaves couldn't look more different; unlike the long French bread, ciabatta is boxy and flat (though not as flat as focaccia). They're both crusty on the outside and soft inside, but ciabatta is made with a wet dough that gives it lots of distinctive air holes. In Italian, ciabatta literally means "carpet slipper."

Definitions of ciabatta

1. noun

   Italian bread baked in a loaf with a floury crust and a chewy texture inside; made with olive oil