Basic Sourdough Bread

Indulge in the timeless art of sourdough bread baking with this basic recipe that promises to elevate your kitchen prowess. Crafted with just four simple ingredients and a dash of patience, my sourdough loaf boasts a tangy flavor and irresistible crust.

If you’re curious about my unique process and how I cultivated my own starter from scratch, click here to unlock the secrets behind my sourdough journey.

IMPORTANT TO READ!

If you’re using this recipe to make sourdough from my Dehydrated Sourdough Starter, then I would like to advise on my process for deliciously perfect bread every single time! 

I do things quite differently from most in the sourdough community. I like a more “hands-off” approach and it works quite well. So I believe it is important that you read and understand this entire post before scrolling down the recipe as it provides information that, if not followed, could see your bread fail.

I Use Cold, Unfed Starter

Firstly, I use cold, unfed starter which means I pull my starter right from the fridge (where it always stays) and I use a 1/2 cup of cold, unfed starter. This is contrary to most methods that require you to feed your starter and wait until it doubles in volume before using. I don’t have time for that, and quite frankly, using a cold starter works just fine! So following this recipe, you’ll use a cold, unfed starter straight out of the fridge. 

Once I take my 1/2 cup of starter from my container to use for this recipe, I will replace what I used, using 1/2 cup of flour, and (without measuring) I add a small amount of water to create a semi-thick pancake batter type of consistency, then I place it back in the fridge until I am ready to bake with it again. 

This method eliminates the need to have “discard” which you tend to hear so much about. You really don’t need to discard any of your starter if you can manage it correctly. Don’t be one of those people who end up with a dozen jars of discard and don’t know what to do with it all. 

I created this to be the most efficient, hands-off, and zero waste recipe possible. 

I Measure In Cups, Not Grams

While this may seem like a wildly provocative way of making sourdough bread in particular, it’s what works best for me and my starter. I believe there is more value in learning about the textures and consistency of your sourdough versus just looking at a number on the scale.

Truth be told, I measure out my bread recipe, but I almost never measure my feedings for my starter. I know what I’m looking for in the doughs texture and consistency and that plays a far more important role than any number on a scale. 

I Don’t Own A Dutch Oven!

Believe it or not, I do not own a dutch oven or even a banneton for that matter. While having these fancy tools are nice, they are also expensive and really unnecessary. I simply shape my dough and place it in the container in which it will bake in. I have 3 methods of baking since I don’t have a dutch oven. 

1. Open Bake – which is exactly what it sounds like. I just stick the loaf pans in the oven and bake as is. 
2. Stacked Loan Pans – If I am making bread in my loaf pans, I will put another loaf pan on top of the one with the dough in it to create something similar to a dutch oven. This method works well. 
3. Roasting Pan – I also have some cute little square pans and rectangular stoneware that makes bread in the shapes you see below. These dishes I place into an oversized roasting pan and put the lid on. This works just like a dutch oven and it allows me to bake 2 loaves at a time.

I Make 2 Loaves From This Recipe

When all is said and done, I actually make 2 loaves from this one recipe. After I let it double in size, I cut it in half before I shape it and place it in the loaf pan or stoneware. Each loaf weighs about 650g which is pretty much the standard weight of almost any bread you buy in the stores. 

I think that is most of the really important stuff to note when using this recipe and making sourdough bread with my Dehydrated Sourdough Starter. Get ready to embark on a delicious adventure in homemade bread making!