Sourdough Bread

Sourdough Bread

fresh baked 

This Sourdough Bread Recipe is the ultimate step-by-step guide on how to create the perfect homemade loaf of Sourdough Bread from scratch!

Title 1

Ingredients and Equipment

-bread flour -whole wheat flour -filtered water -ripe sourdough starter -salt _______________ -dutch oven -lame -banneton with liner -rice flour -plastic wrap

ingredients mixed in bowl

1

Combine the flours and water in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 45 minutes. Then add the starter and salt and stir well. Cover and set for 4-6 hours. 

ingredients mixed together and adding starter and salt.
lifting and folding the dough

2

Every 30 minutes, wet your hands, and slide them under the dough. Lift and fold, turning the bowl every quarter turn until all sides have been turned. Cover and repeat twice more.

folding the dough.
rounded dough in bowl.

3

The dough should be smooth and rounded, holding its shape with somewhat of a dome toward the edges of the bowl.

rice flour in lined banneton.
dough covered in rice flour in banneton.

4

Line the banneton and sprinkle with rice flour. Place the dough into the basket and sprinkle with additional rice flour. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours. 

scoring the loaf with the lame.
scored loaf of sourdough.

5

Heat the dutch oven and dump the dough in the center. Score the loaf with the lame, cover with the dutch oven lid, and bake until the crust is deep golden brown. 

Let the bread rest on a cooling rack. Serve with butter, soups, or cut into slices for sandwiches!

Expert Tip:

Overhead photo of a loaf of sourdough bread on a cutting board with slices next to it.

Allowing the water and flour mixture to autolyse helps get the gluten developing and makes the dough more pliable from the start. Do not skip this step!

A loaf of white bread sitting on a cooling rack on to colorful napkin.
Close up photo of a loaf of cinnamon swirl bread that has been sliced into revealing the center.

More fun bread recipes to try!

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Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Beer Bread