Simple Sourdough Bread

So, what's the big deal about Simple Sourdough Bread?

There’s a reason sourdough bread has found its way into so many cozy kitchens, and it’s about more than just a delicious slice of bread! From cottagecore baking and homesteading to slow living and traditional homemaking, sourdough is the perfect blend of old-fashioned charm and modern wellness.

Made with simple ingredients like flour, water, and salt, sourdough relies on natural fermentation to create its signature tangy flavor, chewy texture, and beautifully rustic crust. But there's some fascinating science behind the sourdough craze, too! During fermentation, beneficial bacteria produce organic acids that can slow starch digestion and help reduce the bread's glycemic response compared to some conventional breads. This makes traditionally fermented sourdough an interesting option for those mindful of blood sugar and lower-sugar lifestyles.

Whether you're growing your own herbs, tending a backyard garden, making handmade crafts, or dreaming of a cozy homestead, sourdough baking is another wonderful way to embrace a slower, more intentional lifestyle.

Sometimes, the best things in life are homemade!

Simple Sourdough Bread Recipe

Total time: 24 hours | Active time: 3 hours

Ingredients:

100 grams (1/2 cup) Active Sourdough Starter

475 grams (3 1/2 cup) Bread Flour (we like King Arthur's)

325 grams (1 1/3 cup) Warm Water

10 grams (2 teaspoons) Salt

Instructions:

Day 1 Evening:

1. Measure active sourdough starter into a large bowl with a lid. We like to use 7 quart tupperware containers because they work great for mixing and also proofing. Add warm (90F to 100F degrees) water and stir until liquids are combined.

2. Add flour and salt; stir until it becomes a shaggy dough. All flour should be combined and no longer powder. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour. This allows the flour to hydrate before you begin building gluten.

3. Begin stretch and folds. Pull, stretch and fold the dough onto itself. Move in a clockwise rotation 4 times stretching and pulling the dough. Cover and rest 30 more minutes.

4. Repeat stretch and folds 3 more times, covering and resting for 30 minutes between each round.

5. At this stage, you can leave your covered dough on the counter overnight. This is called 'bulk fermentation'.

   
   

Day 2 Morning:

1. Empty your dough onto a lightly floured surface. Using a dough knife, cut the dough in half. This recipe makes two large loaves.

2. Using your hands or the dough knife, shape your dough into a rounded boule by using your fingers to gently draw the dough toward you, turning it, then drawing toward you again.

3. Line two, 2-quart bowls or bannetons with rice flour or parchment paper and place the shaped dough upside down into them. The bottom of your future loaves will be upwards.

4. Cover them loosely with plastic wrap and place them in the fridge to be baked when you return home from work, or at dinner time!

Day 2 Evening:

1. Preheat two cast-iron pans (dutch oven or fry pan works, we do not cook covered!) to 425F.

2. Once fully preheated, remove your loaves from the fridge and turn them onto parchment paper. Using a knife or lame, deeply score your loaves at about 1/2".

3. Carefully place your loaves, with parchment, into the cast iron pans in the oven.

4. Bake for 15 minutes at 425F.

5. Reduce heat to 375F and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the loaf reaches 200F-210F.

6. Remove your loaves, carefully, from the oven and rest for 1 hour on a cooling rack.

You can enjoy your sourdough in a variety of ways! It's great for sandwiches, toasted, or just by itself for the purists!

Have you tried our recipe? Send us some photos!

Nutrition Facts

About 13 servings per recipe Serving size: 1 slice (2 oz / 57 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 140

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value*
Total Fat	0 g	0%
Saturated Fat	0 g	0%
Trans Fat	0 g	—
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Sodium	290 mg	13%
Total Carbohydrate	30 g	11%
Dietary Fiber	1 g	4%
Total Sugars	0 g	—
Includes Added Sugars	0 g	0%
Protein	5 g	—
Vitamin D	0 mcg	0%
Calcium	0 mg	0%
Iron	0 mg	0%
Potassium	0 mg	0%

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. A 2,000-calorie diet is used for general nutrition advice.