Simple Sourdough Bread Recipe
Tip: There might be just as many ways to make sourdough as there are types of yeasts in the world. I chose a simple recipe and found success with it. If you’re venturing into the world of sourdough for your first time or perhaps you want to try something new, look at what you read about sourdough as one of many approaches.
3 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups plus 4 teaspoons water, room temperature
1/3 cup mature sourdough starter (fed 8-12 hours beforehand)
Mix the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Mix the sourdough starter and water in a separate bowl. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix for 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth-looking.
Lightly flour your hands and counter, then turn the dough onto the counter and form into a ball. Coat the bowl with oil and put the dough back into it, rolling it to coat the entire ball with oil. Cover the bowl and let it sit on the counter for 12 hours. Transfer to the fridge to continue fermenting or bake whenever you’re ready.
When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 500 F with a baking sheet or cast iron skillet inside to get hot.
When the oven is preheated, take the chilled dough out of the fridge and gently run a rubber spatula along the sides to separate it from the bowl. Sprinkle rice flour or cornmeal on the top surface of the dough.
Remove the hot baking sheet from the oven, then turn the bowl upside-down over the pan so the dough ball falls out, flour-side down, onto the hot pan. Using a sharp knife, quickly score the top of the loaf.
Place the pan and dough into the oven on the middle rack. Close the oven door and re-set the temperature to 475. Bake 20 minutes, then lower temperature to 350 and bake for another 20 minutes or until the crust gets to your desired crispiness.
Click the links below for some great Sourdough Stories and Recipes!