Sourdough starter and bread: Hi all, I've... - Healthy Eating

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Sourdough starter and bread

21 Replies

Hi all, I've been looking on the internet looking for a sourdough starter and bread, does anyone know of a good recipe for both please?

Thank you

21 Replies
BadHare profile image
BadHare

I've seen sourdough starters in shops in London for £8 a pack. They're also available online. There are several fermentation websites that explain how to start your own, which takes about 5 days to a week.

theguardian.com/lifeandstyl...

bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/sour...

Lots more available!

in reply to BadHare

Thank you Mel and really appreciate you posting the links as well.

Alicia :)

Zest profile image
Zest

Hi Alicia,

Good luck with making your own bread - sounds exciting!!! I've never tried to do it from a starter dough. I can see you've had a great reply already from BadHare , and in addition, I wasn't sure if you've seen the Pinned post about 'Bread' - as there are a few great posts within that for different bread recipes - here is the link if you want to have a look:

healthunlocked.com/healthye....

Happy Baking!!!

Zest :-)

in reply to Zest

Thank you Zest and I have now printed and saved the sourdough bread that you provided the link for and also the link that Mel has provided, the one from the Guardian.

I love sourdough bread, it beats all breads out there and the first time I tried it was a loaf from Morrisons, they make lovely sourdough bread.

Alicia :)

Zest profile image
Zest in reply to

Mmmm, I think I will be getting some sourdough very soon! :-)

in reply to Zest

I bought a loaf from Sainsburys today and it's lovely, that's just until I get my starter going and then to make my own. Am playing round with the internet first re recipes as not sure yet which one I'm going to follow.

Alicia :)

deejames profile image
deejames

I bought my original sourdough starter over a year ago. I make sourdough bread about 3 times a week.

It's a fiddle but I am used to it. 3 days before bread making I start feeding the starter. 50g flour and 50 g water twice a day. The night before I use 5 tbls of starter and 300 ml water and 3oo gs flour. Beat hard and leave over night. In the morning add about 2 tsps salt and 1/3 cup of oil. Mix them in then add about 300 g more of flour and kneed for 15 mins until dough is silky and elastic. Leave to rise slowly. The slower the better. Patience pays off. When doubled in size form into loaf and rise in proving basket lined with cloth napkin dusted with flour. Rise again. Place on lighlt grease flat baking sheet in oven gas mark 7 and pour boiling water into a tin underneath. 15 mins at that heat then 20 mins at gas mark 6. The boiling water creates a good crunchy crust. You can add more when heat gets turned down.

Use what is left of starter to feed what is left from original. Keep in fridge.

Dee

in reply to deejames

Thank you for that Dee and I will certainly be making my own and as you say, although it's a fiddle to do it's definitely worth it. One thing about making your own is you know what's in it, you can make it using organic ingredients (much cheaper than buying a readymade organic loaf from a shop) and it's much better for the digestion.

You mention a proving basket, what does that look like? I'm unsure as I've never used one before as I have a bread maker but know I can't make sourdough in it. Also you say you cook it on a flqt baking sheet, what is flqt? Thank you for the tip re using water in the oven for the crust.

Many thanks

Alicia :)

deejames profile image
deejames in reply to

I found my baskets in a charity shop. Small round or oval baskets about the size of a sourdough loaf.

I've got tips for making it more sour.

I have just remember about oil and salt......😫 will alter original post

Dee

deejames profile image
deejames

I like making my own sourdough. No more IBS symptoms since doing so. Just flour salt oil and water. No preservatives or additives. I use organic flour too.

Occasionally make fortified ( milk and egg) ordinary loaves with yeast and added grains like rice or wheat grains.

in reply to deejames

Thank you for both replies and glad you no longer have IBS symptoms, I'm slowly but surely getting there with my IBS - I'm almost 100% sure that normal wheat bread is a problem. I have been making my own bread for a while now but not sourdough but I actually prefer sourdough bread.

Alicia :)

deejames profile image
deejames in reply to

Hi Alicia. I do find that if I have to eat shop bought bread, it can induce bloating and IBS symptoms. Stress is always a factor but even the high levels I experience with chronic pain are better than before the homemade bread.

I assumed you made your own bread when I jotted down the sourdough recipe and know about oiling bowls and covering with clingfilm etc.

I don't tend to make totally wholemeal sourdough. I use Enkorn flour and unbleached white, sometimes a mixture of rye and white. 50/ 50 wholemeal and white.

in reply to deejames

Hi Dee, I normally make my bread in a bread maker but know I won't be able to do that with sourdough. I have bought organic wholemeal today, I couldn't get white, ready to make the bread and now all I have to do is make the starter.

I've now saved the recipe and instructions you have given me, thank you, and am now ready to start - yay :)

Once again, thank you so much for your help.

Alicia

deejames profile image
deejames in reply to

I have never had any luck with making my own starter. The one I bought has been redistributed many times.

Let me know how you get on with it.

Normally I hand make and knead my bread but have neck and shoulder issues at the moment so use the dough hook on my food mixer and finish off by hand. Works ok.

But you are right. Bread machines are too speedy for sour dough and I don't imagine you can get the texture and crust either

in reply to deejames

I certainly will let you know how I get on with it, I will post on here and also add a picture of the bread once I have made it (that's if I remember to - lol).

I really hope that your next and shoulder issues heal soon.

Once again, thank you.

Alicia :)

I use Paul Hollywood's method which I find works well.

paulhollywood.com/recipes/s...

in reply to

Thank you Jadzhia, I've just had a look at that one and it looks really good - thank you.

Alicia

healthygenes profile image
healthygenes

Irish soda bread is both quick and good,especially if you are a novice, very simple recipe for those with no patience, flour salt water,no waiting around, brown/white, pulses/honey, add anything you want.

in reply to healthygenes

Thank you for that healthygenes, I will look that up on the internet.

Alicia :)

healthygenes profile image
healthygenes

Hi, glad you liked the soda bread suggestion, any recipes will tell you to use buttermilk+ bicarbonate soda/suger but I bypass that by using just warm water maybe mixed with milk, I also use baking powder, over the years I have learned that some ingredients suite different people, so anyone with dairy problems can acctually just use water, also make sure the doe is quit soft may even be a bit sticky when you put it in the oven, done in about 30 min,when bottom is tapped and sounds hollow.Enjoy!

in reply to healthygenes

Thank you for the tips, really helpful and will certainly help me when I make the bread. I'm looking forward to trying it.

Alicia

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