Homemade Sourdough Made Easy: Delicious, No-Stress Bread

This easy sourdough recipe delivers a crusty, flavorful loaf with minimal effort. The key to perfect sourdough? A strong starter! With a little patience and a few simple steps, you’ll have fresh, homemade bread that’s perfect for any meal. Pro tip: The secret to sourdough success is a strong starter—make sure yours is bubbly and active for the best results! Without further adieu, let’s get started!

Ingredients:

• 100g active sourdough starter (the key to great sourdough is a strong starter!)

• 345g warm water

• 500g unbleached bread or all-purpose flour

• 12g salt (about 2 tsp)

  
  

Instructions:

1. Mix the Basics: In a large bowl, whisk together your 100g of active sourdough starter and 345g of warm water until smooth. Then, add in the flour, and stir until you have a rough, shaggy dough. Don’t stress—this is supposed to be a little messy! (Remember, sourdough is very forgiving as long as you have a strong starter!)

2. Rest Time: Let that dough sit for 30 minutes to rest and hydrate. Go ahead, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while the dough gets cozy.

3. Add the Salt: After the rest, sprinkle 12g (about 2 teaspoons) of salt over the top of your dough. Gently poke the salt into the dough while stretching and folding, making sure it gets incorporated as you go. You’ll do this during your stretch and fold sessions in the next steps, so don’t worry if it doesn’t all mix in right away.

4. Stretch & Fold Time: After 30 minutes, it's time for a little dough workout! Stretch the dough gently and fold it in quarters—do this several times until you can feel the dough start to come together. Let it rest for another 30 minutes, then repeat the stretch and fold three more times (for a total of 4 rounds in about 2 hours). Each time you fold, you’re helping that dough build its strength!

5. Overnight Rest: Once you’ve finished the stretch and fold sessions, cover your dough and let it rest. You can leave it out on the counter overnight if you're feeling a little lazy (who isn’t?), or if you need more time, stick it in the fridge. It’s a pretty chill dough.

6. Preheat Time: When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven and your trusty Dutch oven to 500°F. That’s right—500°F! While it’s heating up, pull your dough out of its resting spot, sprinkle a bit of flour on your counter, and gently turn it out onto the surface.

7. Shape It Up: Shape the dough by tucking the sides under itself, creating tension on top. The more tension, the better! Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes while the oven heats up. Time to get excited!

8. Let’s Bake This Thing: After the dough’s little rest, score the top with a sharp knife or lame (if you’re fancy), and transfer it to a piece of parchment paper. Drop the oven temperature to 450°F, then carefully place your dough in the preheated Dutch oven with the lid on. Bake for 30 minutes—your kitchen is going to start smelling amazing.

9. The Final Touch: After 30 minutes, remove the Dutch oven lid, drop the oven temperature to 400°F, and bake for another 15 minutes. This helps get that gorgeous dark, crunchy crust we all love.

10. Cool It Down: Once the bread is beautifully baked, let it cool on the counter. Try to resist cutting a slice right away (we know, it’s hard), but give it some time to rest. Once it’s cooled enough, cut yourself a slice, spread with butter (or whatever you fancy), and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Once your bread has cooled to a perfect sliceable temperature, cut yourself a piece and savor the satisfying crunch of the crust and the soft, airy crumb inside. Whether you enjoy it with butter, jam, or your favorite toppings, you’ve created something special from scratch. Celebrate your effort, and know that each loaf you bake brings you one step closer to mastering the art of sourdough! Enjoy!