Crispy crust with airy and soft textured inside, ciabatta has a naturally savory and aromatic taste compared to other bread types. Furthermore, the bread has a very chewy bread with crispy crust because there is no added fat present in the dough.
Generally, it is olive oil flavored, and it toasts incredibly with or without butter. No bread beats the sumptuous and soft texture of ciabatta bread, it is definitely a fan favorite amount many.
More often than not, ciabatta is used as a bruschetta appetizer base. However, several cheese types and flavors can be paired with it to increases its uses.
What to eat with ciabatta? Serve ciabatta bread with chicken, fish, salad, pasta, soup, vegetable stews. It can also be prepared as paninis or sandwiches for lunch or dinner.
But if you are looking for breakfast idea, consider savory meal including fried eggs and sausage, or bacon omelette as breakfast sandwiches. In addition, it can be served as bread pudding or fruit toast with a jam or spread.
With these wide range of all day long meal ideas, still wondering what to pair with ciabatta? Well, read through to find out!
What cheese goes well with ciabatta?
Cheese brings a mouthwatering taste and flavor to ciabatta, making it even more appealing and inviting. The following cheeses go well with ciabatta.
- Cheddar: Besides being a renowned crowd-pleaser, cheddar cheese also melts perfectly on ciabatta. Go for the sharp white cheddar to take the dish’s flavor up a bit, or experiment with spiced cheddars such as hickory-smoked or jalapeño. Add some hot sauce, fresh herbs, and apple slices too.
- Gruyere: The sweet, sharp, and earthly flavors of this cheese are unmatched. Once you taste gruyere cheese on ciabatta, there’s no going back.
- Brie: This is cheating because brie cheese adds the perfect amount of mild flavor and richness to ciabatta. Try adding some avocado, turkey, pesto, sliced apples, or sautéed mushrooms with brie as fillings too.
- Raclette: For a cheese that melts perfectly on ciabatta, go for raclette. It’s rich and meaty, with some funkiness that fades when melted. Throw in some cooked bacon to spice things up and viola.
- Gouda: Gouda cheese melts as well as cheddar, but adds a dash of smokiness and sweetness. No, it doesn’t have any sugar additives, but its unique preparation makes it sweeter. It has some butterscotch flavor and crystalline texture that marry perfectly with the natural taste of ciabatta.
What condiments go well with ciabatta?
Because ciabatta is a well known bread for sandwiches, condiment is must-have essential item to melt the ingredient set-in the bread. To add more flavor, taste, and tanginess to ciabatta, be sure to add the following condiments:
- barbecue sauce
- cranberry sauce
- ketchup
- mustard
- olive oil
- butter
- pesto sauce
- butter
- relish
- red pepper flakes
- marmite
- balsamic vinegar
- sriracha
- nutella
What to serve with ciabatta bread?
Whether the ciabatta bread is served as appetizer with olive oil dip or butter, it can be a great side addition to the actual main dish. With soups or stews, it can soak the liquid or with salad it can add more filling components.
Therefore, ciabatta bread can be served in so many dishes including:
- salads
- pork chops
- grilled meat
- stew
- casserole
- french onion soup
- jam
- roasted vegetables
What to add to ciabatta bread?
So, what additives make ciabatta so addictive and irresistible? Well, adding sweeteners, nuts, whole grains and seeds, fats, oils, and milk powder will take it up a notch.
Add sweeteners such as honey, malt and flavored fats such as walnut to add nuance and for that crispy crust. Nuts and seeds such as pumpkin, poppy, sesame, flax, and sunflower seeds add taste and some crunch to the ciabatta bread.
- Nuts: walnuts, chestnuts, pine nuts
- Seeds: pumpkin, poppy, sesame, flax, sunflower
- Fruits: peach, berries, cherries, lemon, blood orange
- Vegetables: zucchini, arugula, tomatoes, spinach, peppers, avocado
- Meat: beef tenderloin, deli roast beef, ham, chicken, turkey
- Herb: basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary
Eat With Ciabatta: Conclusion
Ciabatta is renowned for its unique flavor, chewy crust and moist texture. Its soft crumb makes it an ideal for sopping up sauces and soups from dinner plates to quick sandwiches filled with layers of cheese, vinegar, and meats.
Since its known for sandwiches, there are various cheese options to select from to make the bread taste better, which includes cheddar, gruyere, brie, raclette, and gouda cheese.
No matter what the recipe suggests, to make a nice filling sandwich consider adding condiments that pair well with rest of ingredient. The goal is to maximize flavor and harmonize the overall taste.
This bread can also served fresh with olive oil or whipped butter to pair with salads, grilled meat, soup, stew, and casserole on the side.
Whether you are considering to make a sandwich for quick bite or side for dinner, use these flavor combinations to understand what to add to your recipe that tastes good with ciabatta bread.