In the realm of homemade bread, sourdough bread stands as a testament to the magic of fermentation. With its tangy flavor, chewy texture, and rustic charm, it has captured the hearts of bread enthusiasts worldwide. Embark on a culinary journey as we delve into the art of crafting this beloved bread from scratch. This comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and techniques to create a perfect sourdough loaf in the comfort of your own kitchen. Discover the secrets of cultivating a vibrant sourdough starter, the key to unlocking the unique flavor profile of this bread. Learn the intricacies of kneading, shaping, and baking, transforming simple ingredients into a masterpiece. Along the way, you'll find a collection of sourdough bread recipes tailored to suit various dietary preferences and skill levels, ensuring that every baker can find their perfect match. Whether you're a seasoned sourdough baker seeking to refine your craft or a novice eager to embark on this artisanal adventure, this article will guide you every step of the way.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
SOURDOUGH BREAD
This no-knead sourdough bread is delicious. It has a crisp crust and distinctive sourdough flavor from the "starter" yeast mixture you stir up in advance. I was surprised at how easy it is! -Evelyn Gebhardt, Kasilof, Alaska
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 1h5m
Yield 2 loaves.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a 4-qt. non-metallic bowl, dissolve yeast in 2 cups warm water; let stand 5 minutes. Stir in 2 cups flour until smooth. Cover loosely with a clean towel. Let stand in a warm place (80°to 90°) to ferment for 48 hours; do not stir. (The mixture will become bubbly and rise, have a "yeasty" sour aroma and change color from transparent yellow to gray over the course of 48 hours.) , Stir in milk powder, butter, sugar, salt, remaining water and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. (Do not knead.) Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. , Heavily grease baking sheets and sprinkle with cornmeal. Gently punch dough down. Turn onto a well-floured surface; divide in half. (If baking loaves one at a time, cover and refrigerate half of dough. Proceed with shaping and second rise when oven is ready so shaped loaf can be baked immediately after the second rise.) , With floured hands, gently move the dough in a circular motion. Use friction from the counter to stretch the surface and create a smooth top and round loaf. Quickly and gently transfer to prepared pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°., With a sharp knife, make three diagonal slashes across tops of loaves. Immediately bake 10 minutes. Gently brush or spray loaves with cold water; bake 25-35 minutes longer or until golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 120 calories, Fat 1g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 2mg cholesterol, Sodium 157mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.
SOURDOUGH BREAD FOR BEGINNERS RECIPE BY TASTY
Making sourdough bread can be intimidating, but this recipe is the perfect guide if you're ready to bake your first loaf of bread. The crust is crunchy, while the crumb is springy and delicious. The recipe calls for bread flour and whole wheat flour, but if you only have all-purpose flour, use 375 grams (1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons) water instead of 400 grams for the initial mix.
Provided by Katie Aubin
Categories Sides
Time 18h
Yield 1 loaf
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Autolyse: Add 400 grams of warm water and the sourdough starter to a medium bowl. Stir with a rubber spatula to dissolve the starter.
- Add the bread flour and whole wheat flour. Use a spatula or your clean hands to mix until combined and there are no dry spots. Cover with a clean cotton kitchen towel and let sit in a warm place for 60 minutes.
- Bulk fermentation: After resting the dough, add the salt and remaining 10 grams water. Use your hands to incorporate the salt, squishing the dough through your fingers to make sure it is evenly distributed.
- Set a bowl of water nearby. Once the salt is incorporated, dip your hand in the water to prevent sticking. Use your wet hand to stretch the dough from the edge of the bowl upwards, then fold toward the center. Repeat a total of 8 times, rotating the bowl slightly after each fold.
- After the folds, carefully lift the dough up, flip it over, place it back in the bowl and tuck the edges under the dough. Scrape down the edges of the bowl, then cover with the kitchen towel and let rest in a warm place for 60 minutes.
- Repeat the stretching and folding process 2 more times, waiting 60 minutes after each folding session before beginning again. You should see signs of fermentation in the form of an increase in volume and bubbles along the edges and top of the dough. Wait a little longer, up to 30 more minutes between folds, if you don't see those signs yet.
- Preshape: An hour after the final stretch and fold, dip your hands in the water. Think of the dough as the face of a clock. Slide your hands into the bowl at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock. Partially lift the dough from the bowl and let it fold under itself. Rotate the bowl and repeat the lifting and fold under 5-6 times, until dough has begun to come together in a ball.
- Carefully lift the dough onto a clean surface. Lightly sprinkle the dough with the dusting flour. Using a bench scraper, or lightly floured hands, carefully rotate and drag the dough towards yourself along the surface, building tension until you have a round, taut ball of dough. Do not make the ball too tight, as it may tear. Lightly flour the dough, cover with the towel, and let rest for 30-40 minutes.
- Final shape: Dust a proofing basket or a medium bowl lined with a cotton towel lightly with flour.
- After 40 minutes, the dough should look relaxed and have spread out slightly. Lightly flour the top of the dough again. Using the bench scraper, or a silicone spatula and lightly floured hands, carefully flip the dough over, so the unfloured part is facing upwards.
- Think of the clock again. Fold in 12 o'clock towards the center, then 6 o'clock, 3 o'clock, and 9 o'clock, then each of the remaining 4 diagonal corners. Carefully transfer the dough, seam-side up, to the prepared proofing basket or bowl. Pinch the seams to ensure they are sealed. Cover the bowl with the towel.
- Final proof: Transfer the dough to the refrigerator to finish proofing overnight, 12-18 hours. If you want to bake the same day, leave at room temperature for 2-3 hours, then transfer to the refrigerator while you preheat the oven. (Overnight proofing is highly recommended!)
- When you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 500°F (260°C). Place a Dutch oven or cast iron combo cooker in the oven while it preheats. Make sure your oven has come up to temperature before baking, at least 30 minutes.
- Prepare a piece of parchment paper about the size of the bottom of your baking vessel. Place the parchment over the proofing basket and gently flip the basket over so the dough drops onto the parchment.
- Carefully remove the baking vessel from the oven. Use the parchment paper to carefully lift the dough into the pan. Use a sharp paring knife or bread lame to slash the top of the dough a few times. This scoring will allow steam to escape. Cover the vessel with the lid and carefully place in the oven.
- Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the lid and reduce the oven temperature to 450°F (230°C). Continue baking for another 15-20 minutes, until the crust is amber brown.
- Remove the bread from the oven and carefully transfer to a wire rack. Check to make sure it is done baking by tapping on the bottom--you should hear a hollow sound. Though it may be tempting to dive right in, let the bread cool completely, at least 2 hours, before slicing with a serrated knife.
- Store the loaf cut-side down on a cutting board, or in a plastic bag. You can freeze the whole loaf, or pre-slice, then freeze and pull out slices as needed.
- Notes: If you are using all-purpose flour, use 375 grams of water instead of 400 grams of water for the initial mix. If you don't have a Dutch oven or cast iron combo cooker, you could bake in a cast iron skillet, a pizza stone or a sheet pan, uncovered. You could also bake the bread in a greased 9 x 5-inch (22 x 12 cm) loaf pan (place the bread in the pan seam-side down instead of in a proofing basket.) Bake at 475°F (240°C) for 40-45 minutes, until amber brown. Reduce the oven temperature for the last 20 minutes of baking if the bread is getting too dark on top. The bread won't look as shiny and have as crispy of a crust, but will taste just as good!
- Enjoy!
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SOURDOUGH BREAD RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: warm water, active dry yeast, flour, sugar, flour, salt, water, starter
Provided by Tasty
Categories Sides
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a glass bowl, add water and yeast. Mix the yeast into the water and let it sit for a couple minutes.
- Add in the rest of the ingredients for the starter. Mix well until everything is fully incorporated.
- Wrap the bowl with clear wrap, making sure not to tightly seal the bowl. Let the starter breathe a little and keep it in a dark place at room temperature. Stir every 12 hours until making the dough. The starter will rise and shrink each day and you should see bubbles, letting you know that the yeast is being activated!
- On day 5, combine all ingredients into a bowl, and knead for 10 minutes on low if using a machine; if kneading by hand, knead for 20 minutes until dough is stretchy yet doesn't stick to your hands.
- While the dough is kneading, store your starter for future use. Your starter will last forever as long as you maintain and care for it. It can stay in the fridge and be fed once a week with a teaspoon of sugar. To replenish your starter, simply add 1 cup of flour (125g) and ½ cup of water (120ml), mix, and place it back in the fridge. Leave it out overnight to get to room temperature before preparing the dough.
- Place kneaded dough into a large floured bowl with a towel over the top, then sprinkle flour and let it rise for 12 hours.
- Place risen dough onto a floured board and knead for a few minutes. Place it into a floured proofing basket or a medium bowl, sprinkle flour and let it rise for another 4 hours.
- Preheat oven to 480°F (250°C).
- Flip the dough onto a parchment paper, and transfer the dough and paper into a large cast-iron dutch oven.
- Score the top of the bread.
- Place the lid on top and bake for 30 minutes.
- Take the lid off and bake for another 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.
- Transfer onto a cooling rack and let it rest for an hour. Knock the bottom of the bread to listen for a hollow knock.
- Nutrition Calories: 1615 Fat: 4 grams Carbs: 340 grams Fiber: 11 grams Sugars: 19 grams Protein: 42 grams
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 460 calories, Carbohydrate 96 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 12 grams, Sugar 2 grams
Tips for Making Sourdough Bread:
- Use a quality starter: The starter is the heart of sourdough bread, so it's important to make sure it's healthy and active. If you're new to sourdough, you can find instructions for making a starter online or in sourdough bread books.
- Be patient: Sourdough bread takes time to make, so be patient and don't rush the process. The longer you let the dough rise, the better the flavor will be.
- Use the right flour: Bread flour or all-purpose flour can be used to make sourdough bread, but bread flour will produce a chewier, more rustic loaf.
- Don't over-knead the dough: Sourdough dough is different from other types of bread dough and doesn't need to be kneaded for long. Over-kneading will make the bread tough.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place: The ideal temperature for rising sourdough dough is between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If your kitchen is too cold, you can place the dough in a warm oven with the light on.
- Bake the bread in a Dutch oven: A Dutch oven creates a humid environment that helps the bread to rise and develop a crispy crust.
Conclusion:
Sourdough bread is a delicious and rewarding bread to make at home. With a little patience and practice, you can create a beautiful loaf of sourdough bread that your family and friends will love. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!
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