White Sourdough Loaf

White Sourdough Loaf

We like this recipe a lot, I've made it 3 times already over the last month and I've also made supplies in the freezer (sliced, it keeps very well in plastic bags).

I'd say it's the ideal sourdough loaf, with big pores, elastic, tasty, fluffy - I can say many good things about it, but why not see for yourself?

I will tell you from the start that the recipe is not difficult, but it requires good time management. There will be several steps and while the dough is rising, you can do other chores in the house. Remember, all the effort and work will be rewarded with some excellent loaves.

Ingredients

Sourdough starter
71 g
the one you keep in the fridge, link in steps
Whole wheat flour
85 g
White flour
142 g
for the levain
Salt
17 g
White flour
454 g
for the dough

Step by step

Step 1

An evening before you start making the bread, take 50-100g of rye sourdough starter from the fridge and add to it 50ml water + 50g wheat/rye flour. Leave until morning for the starter to activate and gain strength.

I also tried without letting the starter sit overnight, it was good, but it felt less fluffy, with smaller pores and it took longer to rise.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 1
Step 2

Step 1 - The Levain:

Place >71g sourdough starter in a bowl - put the remainder back in the fridge, in a small container and use it for the next batch of bread.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 2
Step 3

Add >152ml room temperature water, stir well.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 3
Step 4

Then add >85g whole wheat flour and >142g white flour, mix well with a spoon. Cover the bowl in plastic wrap and let rest for 2-3 hours until it has visibly risen.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 4
Step 5

Here is the levain which has doubled in size, ready for the dough now.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 5
Step 6

Step 2 - The Dough:

Add 312ml room temperature water to the levain from step 5 - stir well.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 6
Step 7

Weigh >454g white flour and >17g salt - mix well with a spoon.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 7
Step 8

The dough will be quite shaggy and sticky.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 8
Step 9

Tip out the dough onto a floured work surface.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 9
Step 10

Now we will work the dough to make it smooth and beautiful using the technique called STRETCH AND FOLD (here is a video for you to see better). 

- So, tip the dough onto the table (dust with flour on top), roll out into a rectangle with your hands. 

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 10
Step 11

Bring one of the sides of the rectangle over to the middle.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 11
Step 12

Bring the other side over the first one.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 12
Step 13

Fold over one of the ends of this 'log' - like in the picture.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 13
Step 14

Bring the other end over the first one. And that's the whole trick.

Cover the dough with a towel, allow to rest for 10 minutes and repeat the Strech and Fold procedure - as in steps 10-14.

You have to repeat this procedure at least 3 times - this way the dough will be smooth and porous and it will rise better.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 14
Step 15

Gently shape into a ball, at this stage you shouldn't knead anymore - simply give the dough a round shape with your hands.

Grease the bowl with a little oil and leave the dough for 2-3 hours to prove (about 1.5-2 times bigger) - covered with a tea towel, of course.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 15
Step 16

Step 3 - The Loaves:

Turn the risen dough onto a floured work surface and cut into 2 pieces.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 16
Step 17

Roll out each piece of dough into a rectangle - dust with a little flour if you need.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 17
Step 18

Bring the longer side to the centre and fold over.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 18
Step 19

Bring the other side over the first one and gently press with your fingers.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 19
Step 20

Round off the ends with your fingers.

 

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 20
Step 21

Shape the both loaves and let rise - I placed them on 2 pieces of parchment paper.

I placed the pieces of parchment paper on a towel and I lifted the sides up with what I could find in the kitchen (a rolling pin, baking sheets etc.) so that the bread could rise upwards.

Allow to sit for 1-2 hours until it gets 1.5-2 times bigger.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 21
Step 22

This is what the risen loaves looked like.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 22
Step 23

Remove the towel and, using a very sharp knife, slash the top of the loaves 2-3 times.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 23
Step 24

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees C, with a tile inside the oven and a baking sheet placed at the bottom.

Place the loaves in the oven (by pulling the parchment paper corners) and pour 150ml water in the hot baking sheet at the bottom - to create steam in the oven. Quickly close the oven door.

After 10 minutes turn heat down to 200 degrees C and bake for 40-50 minutes until golden brown.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 24
Step 25

While baking, you can brush the loaves with water (maybe 2 times) to make the crust look shiny.

Bread is ready when it's golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped at the bottom.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 25
Step 26

If you want a crunchier crust, brush with water as soon as you remove from the oven.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 26
Step 27

And wrap in a towel - let cool completely for a few hours or even overnight.

Usually after an hour we start to break the bread into pieces... it's harder to slice when it's freshly made.

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 27
Step 28

The next day, cut the loaves into thin beautiful slices. You can freeze and use them in need - they will thaw in 30 minutes and will be as good as fresh.

Enjoy!

White Sourdough Loaf - Step 28
Quantity: 1 kg (2 loaves)
Prep time: 300 min
Difficulty: intermediate
Ready in: 300 min
Publish date:

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