Easy Homemade Sourdough Bread Recipe: A Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to the soulful world of sourdough bread baking. The world of flour, water, wild yeast, and magic. If you've ever wanted to learn the art of creating your own homemade sourdough, you're in the right place. This guide will walk you through each step, providing tips on sourdough baking, understanding wild yeast fermentation, and much more. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced baker, this easy sourdough bread recipe will surely enhance your baking skills. Let's dive into the journey of artisan bread baking.

What is Sourdough Bread?

Sourdough bread is a type of bread made from naturally occurring yeast and bacteria. Unlike most commercial breads that use instant yeast, sourdough relies on a "starter" – a fermented mixture of flour and water that captures wild yeast and bacteria from the environment. This starter acts as the leavening agent and imparts the distinct tangy flavor that sourdough bread is famous for. If you're interested, here's more about the sourdough starter.

Creating Your Sourdough Starter

What You'll Need

• Flour: Choose high-quality unbleached all-purpose or whole grain flour.
• Water: Filtered or bottled water is best. Chlorinated tap water can inhibit fermentation.

Feeding and Maintenance

1. Day 1: Combine 50g flour and 50g water in a jar. Stir well, cover with a breathable lid, and store at room temperature.
2. Day 2-7: Discard half of the starter and feed with 50g flour and 50g water. Stir, cover, and store again.

For more detailed reading on how to feed sourdough starter, and its feeding schedule, check our resources.

How to Store Sourdough Starter

Your starter can be stored in the fridge when fully matured. Feed it once a week to keep it active. If you're planning to bake, it's best to return the starter to room temperature and feed it 8-12 hours prior.

Sourdough Starter Troubleshooting

• Lack of Bubbles: Ensure your water is chlorine-free.
• Strong Odor: This is normal during early fermentation. It should mellow out.
• Mold: Discard and start over if you see mold.

Easy Homemade Sourdough Bread Recipe

Ingredients

• 500g bread flour
• 350g water
• 100g active sourdough starter
• 10g salt

Instructions

1. Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine flour and water. Let it at rest (autolyse) for 30 minutes.
2. Add Starter and Salt: Add your starter and salt. Pinch and fold the dough until combined.
3. Bulk Fermentation: Allow the dough to rest, covered, at room temperature for 4-5 hours, folding every 30 minutes for the first two hours.
4. Pre-Shape and Bench Rest: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a round or oval ball, cover, and let rest for 20 minutes.

For more precise shaping, consider using a Silicone Baking Mat Kneading Pad.

5. Final Shape and Prove: Shape the dough to your preference, using your hands to pull the dough taut. Place seam-side up in a banneton or bowl.
6. Cold Proof: Refrigerate overnight or for at least 12 hours.

How to Bake Sourdough Bread

1. Preheat Oven: 245°C (475°F) with a Dutch oven inside. We recommend using the Nonna Bella 4.5Qt Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven.
2. Score: With a sharp blade, score the bread to allow controlled expansion. Check out some of the best sourdough scoring techniques for inspiration.
3. Bake: Carefully place the dough into the hot Dutch oven. Bake covered for 20 minutes; then uncovered for another 25 minutes at 230°C (450°F).

Sourdough Bread Troubleshooting

• Dense Bread: Ensure your starter is active and bubbly.
• Crust Too Hard: Try baking with steam by adding a small tray of water in the oven or using a pot.

Final Thoughts on My Sourdough Life

Baking sourdough is a journey—filled with learning and reward. As part of My Sourdough Life, remember that each loaf is unique, and practice makes perfect. Sourdough bread, with its natural fermentation process, can be a better alternative for some people, including diabetics, due to its lower glycemic index. Just ensure to monitor your own body's response.

Feel free to explore more recipes, guides, and products at Italian Sourdough. Your artisan baking adventure starts here!

Happy baking!