More Sourdough Bread

Posted by thibeaultstable on

On Monday, I fed my sourdough starter and made 

a sourdough biga and a sourdough levain.
The Biga went into Monday’s Bagels 
and the Levain into a bread dough.
The dough went into the fridge Monday and 
was left there until early Wednesday morning.

Took the dough out of the fridge and left it on the counter to warm up.
The dough was then shaped into two rounds and place in towel lined baskets

Baked both loaves in cast iron dutch ovens.
One with parchment paper
 and one with out.
I wanted to see if using parchment made it easier to transfer the dough
to the hot dutch oven and whether the bottom crust browned less.
The answer is the crust looked the same on both loaves, and 
I don’t find it difficult to transfer the loaf with my hands.

I’ve been playing around with my regular recipe
adapting it to make sourdough.

Print Recipe

Artisan Style Bread

Edited February 5th, 2014
This is the recipe I use for baguettes and batards.
 
6 cups flour  (1000 g)
3 1/2 cups water (720g  to 820g water –  72% to 82% hydration)
1 1/3 Tablespoons salt (4 teaspoons) (21 g)
1 1/4 teaspoons yeast (5 g)

NOTES:

NOTE:  I usually double my recipe and refrigerate half the dough for a few days. 
The longer fermentation further develops the flavour and texture.

 Leave out the yeast or reduce yeast to 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon  if making sourdough bread
~~ ~~ ~~

I use a Magic Mill mixer to do all my mixing and kneading.

Mix flour and water (Biga  or Levain if using) together and allow to rest for 20 to 30 minutes. 
This allows the flour to absorb the water and will cut down on the kneading time.

Add yeast and salt mix and again set aside for 20 minutes.

Let the machine Knead the dough until it comes together and forms a smooth ball.

Oil a large rectangular container with a lid.

Because of the amount of water this will be a very soft dough. 
Tip out on to a well floured board.
Knead by hand just long enough to shape into a ball and then place dough into oiled container and cover with lid.

After 10 minutes fold dough a few times.
(Using the Ken Forkish method of folding).

 Keep the dough in a ball shape.   As the dough rises it will spread out to fill the container.  
Repeat the fold once more in the next hour.   Then leave dough to triple.

Carefully tip dough out on to floured board and cut in half.  Half makes – Recipe makes two large loaves or a number of baguettes. 
Also makes a wonderful pizza crust.
 

Shaping Loaves

Baguettes  (4 to 6 Baguettes depending on size)  Shape , dust with flour and cover with tea towel.

Rounds – Shape into two large rounds and place.  seam side down, in floured tea towel lined basket/bowl.
Dust with flour and cover with tea towel.

I bake baguettes on a stone preheated to 500°F. 
When the baguettes have proofed, almost doubled, slash and place on preheated stone. 
They take about 20 to 25 minutes.

Rounds can be baked on the stone at 500°F or in preheated Dutch Ovens (475°F). 
If baking on a stone, tip the round out on to floured board,(seam side will now be up) slash and slide onto stone using a pizza paddle.

If baking in a dutch oven, tip loaf out on to floured board.
Carefully pick up and place into preheated Dutch Oven.(seam side will be up. No need to slash) 
Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
 Remove lid and continue to bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
 
Optional Preferments

Regular Biga
1 1/2 cups flour (230 g)
1/2 teaspoon yeast
1 cup water (230 g)
Stir well, cover and leave to rise overnight.

 Sourdough Biga 

2 oz sourdough starter (60 g)
1 1/2 cup flour (230 g)
1 cup water (230 g)
Stir well, cover and leave to rise overnight.

Sourdough Levain

2 ounces sourdough starter (60)
1 cup flour (150 g)
1/4 cup (more as needed) (65 g)

The Levain is stiffer than the Biga.  Mix the ingredients together and knead for a few minutes.
 Place in oiled container and allow to rise overnight
Edited July 1st, 2014
 Hamburger and Hot Dog buns.
Add
1 Tablespoon honey
1/3 cup of butter
enough milk ( buttermilk or cream) and water to equal 650 g.
1 egg

One Comment Add yours

  1. Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine says:
    March 24, 2019 at 8:33 pm

    your bread looks and sounds fantastic I just hope I am half as talented to recreate this masterpiece!

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