Sourdough bread is made by the fermentation of dough using naturally occurring lactobacilli and yeast. Sourdough bread has a mildly sour taste not present in most breads made with baker’s yeast and better inherent keeping qualities than other breads, due to the lactic acid produced by the lactobacilli. Let’s know how to easily make this bread at home.
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water
- 1 cup sourdough starter (unproofed)
- 6 -8 cups flour (this depends on altitude and how thick your sourdough starter is)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1⁄2 cup water
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1⁄2 teaspoon cornstarch
Directions
Step 1: Combine the water, sourdough starter and 4 cups of flour in a large bowl.
Step 2: After that you need to mix well and cover with plastic wrap in a warm place 8-12 hours.
Step 3: The next day stir in the sugar and salt and add flour 1/2 to 1 cup at a time to make a very stiff dough .
Step 4: Press till smooth.
Step 5: Lid and let rise 2 to 2-1/2 hours.
Step 6: Divide in half by punch down.
Step 7: Press till smooth and form into rounds.
Step 8: Place on a greased baking sheet. Cover lightly and let rise till double and puffy (1 to 1-2 hrs).
Step 9: While this is rising mix 1/2 tsp cornstarch and the 1/2 cup water in a small bowl and microwave till boiling, remove from heat and let cool.
Step 10: Heat oven to 400°F.
Step 11: Place a small pan of hot water on the bottom rack of the oven.
Step 12: Plot two slashes across each other on top of each loaf.
Step 13: Now it’s time to bake it for 10 minutes.
Step 14: Pull out the rack and baste each loaf well with the cornstarch mixture.
Step 15: Now you need to close the oven.
Step 16: After that allow to bake another 20-25 minutes.
Step 17: Loaves should be a light golden color and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Step 18: You are suppose to allow this to cool for 2 hrs to develop the sourdough flavor fully.
Make it at your home and share your opinion about this. Hope you will enjoy it.
