Simple Sourdough Bread Recipe

Simple Sourdough Bread Recipe

This simple sourdough bread recipe consistently produces beautiful loaves with minimal fuss. We start on the morning of Day 1 and bake any time on Day 2.

Proofing the loaves in the fridge means you can bake at a time that works with your lifestyle.

Day 1: 7:45am

Feed starter

  • 50g 90/10 breadflour/wholewheat
  • 50g warm water Mark level with elastic band on jar. Place above fridge to rise

Weigh out ingredients (70% hydration)

  • 450g bread flour
  • 50g whole wheat flour
  • 350g water
  • 10g salt

Day 1: 11:15am

Mix 60g starter into 350g room temp water Combine with 500g flour mix Cover and rest for an hour

Day 1: 11:45am

8 x stretch & folds, sprinkling pinches of salt on each fold

Day 1: 12:45pm

4 x stretch & folds

Day 1: 1:20pm

4 x stretch & folds

Day 1: 2:00pm (Start Bulk Fermentation)

4 x stretch & folds Remove from bowl, clean bowl, dust with rice flour. Put dough back in bowl. Dust dough with rice flour. Cover with cling film and start bulk fermentation on kitchen counter

Day 1: 9:30pm (Shaping & Proofing)

Dust counter with rice flour. Remove dough from bowl. Shape on counter. Dust parchment paper with rice flour. Transfer shaped dough to parchment paper Pick up parchment paper and dough, and place back in bowl. Cover bowl with cling film. Place in fridge

Day 2: 6:45am

Place cast iron dutch oven with lid in oven Place cookie sheet underneath to minimize base crust hardness Set oven to 450F

Day 2: 7:45am

Remove dough from fridge and score Remove dutch oven from oven, place dough & parchment paper in dutch oven Return dutch oven to oven Reset oven to 450F Set timer for 25 mins

Day 2: 8:05am

Remove lid from dutch oven Reset oven to 450F Set timer for 20 mins

Day 2: 8:25am

Remove dutch oven from oven Remove bread from dutch oven, and place on cooling rack Allow to cool for AT LEAST 2 hours

Resuling loaf was very good - lots of oven spring, nice open crumb without large tunnels. Nice crust, no ears though