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Chef John's Sourdough Bread

This sourdough bread recipe makes a spectacular sourdough loaf in your own kitchen with a homemade sourdough starter and a minimal amount of work.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 21 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 100 g active sourdough starter
  • 500 g bread flour
  • 350 g lukewarm water
  • 10 g fine sea salt

Method
 

  1. In a bowl, mix flour and water until just combined. Cover and rest 30 minutes.
  2. Stir in the sourdough starter, then sprinkle salt. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
  3. Over 4 hours at room temperature, perform 4 sets of stretch-and-folds, 30 minutes apart.
  4. Shape into a round loaf. Rest 20 minutes uncovered on the counter.
  5. Shape tightly into a boule and place in a floured banneton. Cover and refrigerate 12–18 hours.
  6. Preheat oven to 475°F (245°C) with a Dutch oven inside. Transfer loaf to the pot, score the top, cover and bake 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 25 minutes until golden brown.
  7. Let cool on a rack 1 hour before slicing to set the crumb.