Introduction
Welcome to the ultimate guide for bread lovers looking to enhance their sourdough skills! Sourdough bread is a delicious and satisfying treat that requires some practice and know-how to perfect. In this recipe, we will take you through the steps of creating a beautiful, flavorful loaf of sourdough bread that will impress your friends and family.
Ingredients
- 500g bread flour
- 350ml lukewarm water
- 200g active sourdough starter
- 10g salt
Instructions
Follow these steps to shape up your sourdough skills:
1. Mix the Ingredients
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread flour, lukewarm water, active sourdough starter, and salt.
- Use a spoon or your hands to mix the ingredients until a shaggy dough forms.
- Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes.
2. Knead the Dough
- After the dough has rested, turn it out onto a floured surface.
- Knead the dough for about 10-15 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
3. First Rise
- Place the kneaded dough back into the mixing bowl.
- Cover the bowl again and let the dough rise at room temperature for 3-4 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
4. Shape the Loaf
- Once the dough has risen, gently deflate it and shape it into a round loaf.
- Place the shaped loaf on a floured kitchen towel and cover with another towel.
- Allow the dough to rise for another 1-2 hours.
5. Preheat the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C) and place a Dutch oven inside to heat up.
6. Score and Bake
- Once the dough has finished its final rise, carefully remove the preheated Dutch oven from the oven.
- Score the top of the dough with a sharp knife to allow for expansion during baking.
- Carefully place the dough into the Dutch oven, cover with the lid, and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the lid and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
7. Cool and Enjoy
- Once the bread is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack.
- Slice the bread and enjoy it with your favorite toppings!
