Beginner's Sourdough Style Loaf
Recipes

Beginner's Sourdough Style Loaf

A super-quick sourdough starter for those that just can’t wait! by Peter Sidwell

Ingredients

For the sourdough starter

  • 1 cup strong white flour 
  • 1 cup wholemeal flour 
  • 2 cups warm water 
  • 7g sachet dried yeast 

For the loaf

  • 500g strong white flour 
  • 1 tsp salt 
  • 7g sachet dried yeast 
  • 1 tsb granulated sugar 
  • 300ml warm water 

Method

  1. Mix together the sourdough starter ingredients. Place in an airtight container and leave overnight to ferment.
  2. Place the flour in a large bowl then add the salt, yeast and sugar. Add 100ml of the sourdough starter. Use your hands to mix together and add the water a little at a time until a ball of dough is formed.
  3. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and easy to handle. It should take around 10 minutes.
  4. Return the dough to the bowl, cover and leave to prove in a warm place for 30-40 minutes until doubled in size. Place the dough back onto the floured surface and knead for a minute or two.
  5. Shape your loaf, place on a lightly floured tea towel and leave to prove for 30-40 minutes.
  6. Place a baking tray onto the bottom shelf of a 200°C/400°F oven for approx. 15 minutes then carefully transfer the dough to the hot baking tray.
  7. Return the baking tray to the oven. Place 100ml of cold water into an ovenproof bowl and put into the bottom of the oven ─ this will create steam which will help develop the crust and improve the loaf. Bake for approx. 30 minutes until golden.