Sourdough Era <3
First sourdough loaf made and it was successful! I'm so happy ! 🤗
I've been letting my starter mature for the past 2 - 3 weeks
Starter:
Stir, discard half
Transfer to clean jar
1 cup all purpose (unbleached) flour
1 cup water
(repeat every day till day 7 or 10, whenever you see it really active and doubling, then repeat the recipe twice a day, morning and night)
Recipe for the bread !
(stir, discard, feed, let it sit for 2 - 4 hours)
1 cup water
1 cup starter
3 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1. Add warm water starter into bowl and mix until it forms a milky liquid then add your flour. Knead for about 3 minutes and cover with a tea towel and let sit for 1 - 2 hours
2. Add salt, wet your hands and softly press the salt into the dough (basically just poke holes in the dough lol). Then cover and let it rest for another hour
3. Stretch and folds! (plenty of tutorials). Do this for 2 hours (30 min in between)
4. After you're done with stretch and folds, cover it with a tea towel or plastic wrap and place it in the fridge over night! (if available, I recommend a banneton, if not just use a normal bowl!)
5. Next morning! Set it out in a warm space (under stove light or in the stove with the light on) until it isn't really cold. When it doesn't feel like it's an ice cube, flip it out onto a lightly floured surface and shape your dough! (tutorials are amazing) then place it back in the bowl/banneton and put it back in the fridge for 30 minutes
6. Preheat a dutch oven (cast iron pot) and preheat it to 500°. While preheating, take your dough out and score it! Take your dutch oven or pot out and place parchment paper inside, then place your dough onto a silicone transfer mat (if you have one, you can find them on Amazon for $5-$8)
7. Place lid on top and place it in the oven for 20 minutes, then after 20 minutes lower it to 450° uncovered for 18 - 20 minutes. Take it out and let it sit for atleast an hour before cutting!
Note!: Sometimes placing a pan/oven safe bowl with ice cubes will help the bottom of your bread not burn or become too hard (found this out today)
Also! : You can add pretty much anything to your dough if you don't like plain bread!
Try this recipe and let me know how it goes and what you think!
Items I used :
Round banneton basket
Bread transfer mat
Score tool / bread lame
Cast iron dutch oven w/ lid
(look up Sourdough Starter Kit's on Amazon! Some of them come with everything if not more!)
Good Luck! 🤗❤️
#sourdoughbeginner #sourdoughera #sourdoughloaf #lemon8creator
Sourdough bread has become a favorite for many due to its unique flavor and satisfying texture. The key to a perfect loaf starts with a strong sourdough starter, which is cultivated through the fermentation of flour and water. This process takes patience, often requiring about 7 to 10 days for the starter to become robust enough for baking. This recipe emphasizes the importance of stretch and folds, a technique that boosts gluten development, making the dough strong and elastic. It’s recommended to incorporate this technique during the bulk fermentation phase to improve the structure and rise of the bread. When baking, preheating your Dutch oven is crucial. This method simulates the steam of a traditional bakery oven, which is essential for getting that perfect crust. Baking with steam results in a beautifully caramelized crust while retaining moisture inside the loaf. For those wanting to personalize their bread, additions such as herbs, cheeses, or nuts can elevate the flavor profile. Experimentation is part of the fun, so don’t hesitate to try new ingredients! Finally, remember that the cooling time after baking is just as important as the baking process itself. Allow the bread to rest for at least an hour to stabilize the structure before slicing, resulting in better texture and flavor. Happy baking!