Simple Sourdough Bread Recipe

Directions

Night Before

1. Prepare your Starter: 9-10pm  

   Mix up your starter in preparation to mix the dough the next morning- at least 125g of starter is recommended.

Next Day

1. Mix the Dough: 8:00am-9:00am

   Autolyse: Mix 300g of water + all of the flour in your stand mixer with the paddle attachment for 5 minutes on speed 3-4. Cover and rest for 1 hour.

2. Add your starter (~125g) to the stand mixer bowl and mix, this time with the dough hook on speed 3-4, for 5 minutes. Cover & rest for 30 minutes.

3. Add the salt and 25g of cold water to the mixer bowl and work the dough with your hands for a minute or two until the majority of the water is absorbed. Then, mix with the dough hook for 5 minutes on speed 3-4. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.

4. Bulk Rise: Stretch and fold the dough a few times (4-6), then cover and rest for 30-45 minutes. Repeat this process 3-4 more times over the course of the next 2-3 hours.

5. Pre-Shaping: Dump the dough out on the counter and preshape the dough into a ball. Lightly dust with flour, cover with a towel, and rest for 45 minutes on the counter.

6. Final Shaping: Shape the dough in a boule or battard and place it seam side up in your proofing basket, cover and place in the refrigerator overnight.

Next Day

1. 8:00am - 9:00am

   Preheat your oven and Baking Steel Original to 500F for 1 hour

2. Turn out your loaf onto a piece of parchment paper and score the top of it using a lame or razor blade.

3. Slide the loaf and parchment paper into your preheated steel, place 2 ice cubes next to it and quickly cover the loaf with an inverted metal/aluminum mixing bowl. Turn the oven down to 475F and bake for 25 minutes.

4. Open the oven, remove the bowl covering the loaf, and elevate the loaf on 2-3 Baking Steel Bracelets for the remainder of the bake. Turn your oven down to 450F and bake for 15 more minutes.

5. Remove the loaf from the oven and allow it to cool completely until cutting into it. Enjoy!