🍞 Sourdough Bread (Simple Home Method)
Sourdough is made with a natural starter instead of yeast, so it takes time but gives a deep flavor and chewy texture.
🧫 1. Sourdough Starter (if you don’t have one)
Ingredients
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup water
Method (5–7 days)
- Mix flour + water in a jar
- Cover loosely and leave at room temp
- Every day: discard half and feed again (flour + water)
- It’s ready when it’s bubbly, sour-smelling, and doubles in size in 4–6 hours
🍞 2. Sourdough Bread Dough
Ingredients
- 3½ cups flour
- 1 cup active sourdough starter
- 1¼ cups water
- 1½ tsp salt
👨🍳 Method
1. Mix dough
Combine starter, water, and flour. Mix until no dry flour remains. Rest 30–45 minutes.
2. Add salt + knead lightly
Mix in salt and gently knead or fold the dough for a few minutes.
3. Bulk fermentation
Cover and let it rise 6–10 hours (until doubled).
During this time, stretch and fold the dough 2–3 times.
4. Shape
Shape into a round loaf. Place in a bowl lined with cloth.
5. Final rise
Let it rest 1–2 hours or refrigerate overnight for better flavor.
6. Bake
- Preheat oven to 230°C
- Use a covered pot (Dutch oven if available)
- Bake 20 minutes covered, then 20–25 minutes uncovered
🔑 Tips
- Starter must be active (bubbly) before using
- Longer fermentation = better flavor
- Cold proofing overnight improves texture
- Steam helps create crust
🍽️ What you get
- Crispy crust
- Soft, airy inside
- Slight tangy flavor
If you want, I can give you:
- ⚡ quick sourdough (faster method)
- 🥖 whole wheat sourdough
- 🧄 garlic herb sourdough loaf
- 🍕 sourdough pizza dough
