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Easy Sourdough Bread

Crusty sourdough bread with a tender crumb

Ingredients
  

The night before

  • 5 cups white flour
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast (optional) I add the extra yeast as insurance, but I've left it out and it still turned out nice
  • cups starter
  • 4 cups lukewarm water

In the morning

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 4-5 cups flour

Instructions
 

The night before

  • Put flour in large mixer bowl. Add starter without mixing.
  • Slowly add warm water, mixing well, until you have a thick batter.
  • Mix well for about 5 minutes (I use my KitchenAid mixer with the flat beater.
  • Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside overnight.

In the morning

  • Replenish the original starter by removing 1½ cups of the sponge mixture and putting back into your original starter mixture. Mix well and keep in the refrigerator.
  • To the remaining sponge, add oil, salt, and two cups of flour. Mix well. Add more flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl. You want a soft, slightly sticky dough.
  • Knead the dough 5 minutes, or mix in your stand mixer with a dough hook.
  • Divide the dough in half. Form into a circle and place on a parchment-covered baking tray. Let rise two hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 425° F.
  • Make slashes on the top of the loaves, being careful not to cut too deep. Brush with water if you want a crusty loaf. Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 375° F. I usually give my loaves another brush of water. Bake for another 20-30 minutes. If using a thermometer, the internal temperature should be about 195° F.
  • Cool on wire rack.