Nutrition Information for a Ciabatta Roll

Ciabatta is an Italian white bread made with yeast and wheat flour (though the recipe varies from one region of Italy to another). It is popular around the world and is often used to make sandwiches. The word "ciabatta" means "carpet slipper" in Italian. The name comes from the unique shape, coloring and texture of a traditional ciabatta loaf. Ciabatta rolls, a smaller version of a loaf, are delicious and are great for sandwiches, or even just a snack. But you may be wondering if they are actually a healthy food or not.

History

• Ciabatta originally comes from the Italian region of Liguria, but over the years has become a popular food in Italy, and each region of the country boasts its own version. Some versions are more crisp and dense, others softer and more porous. Ciabatta has become popular in other parts of the world also, namely the United States and most other European nations. Variations on the traditional recipe include adding milk to the dough or seasoning it with salt, olive oil or marjoram.

Dietary Impacts

• An average ciabatta roll has 240 calories. One roll also has approximately 2 g of fat, 1 g being saturated fat, which works out to about 2% of your daily recommended intake based on a 2000 calorie diet. Being a bread product, a ciabatta roll has an understandably high carbohydrate level, with 49 g, or 17% of your daily value. One ciabatta roll has 514 mg of sodium, about 22% of your daily value, which is significant. However, ciabatta rolls are a cholesterol-free food.

Other Nutritional Information

• Ciabatta rolls are fairly high in protein, with 9 g per roll, about 18% of your daily value. Each roll has just 1 g of fiber, about 4% of your daily value. Ciabatta rolls are not a significant source of other vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, vitamin A or vitamin C. But it is likely that a roll will be eaten along with other foods that can provide those nutrients. However, you should keep in mind the added fat, calories, carbohydrates, etc. when adding toppings.

Popular Toppings

• Perhaps the most popular way to eat ciabatta is as a panino, or a sandwich filled with toppings and then grilled and pressed. Popular panino toppings include tomatoes, ham, salami and cheese, but really, a panino can be made from whatever you'd like. Ciabatta is also commonly used to make regular sandwiches, and it goes well with almost any ingredient. When making a sandwich with a ciabatta loaf or roll, your possibilities are endless.

Basic Recipe

• A quick web search will reveal that there are many different variations on a recipe for ciabatta bread. But the basic recipe includes flour, water, yeast, sugar, olive oil and salt. You then make the dough, allow the dough to rise for about 24 hours, finish mixing the ingredients, and then form and bake. It's a simple recipe to make, and you can have the tasty treat of a ciabatta roll at home.