Sourdough Bread

By Christie

Nutritional Information
Per serving: 120 calories, 0.5g fat, 0mg chol., 5g prot., 24g carbs., 1g fiber, 190mg sodium.

Ingredients

• NOTE:
• 1 cup sourdough starter
• 2 1/2 cups warm water, divided
• 5 to 7 cups white bread flour, divided
• 2 (1/4-ounce) packets dry yeast
• 2 tsp sugar, divided
• 2 tsp. salt
• To Make Sourdough Olive Bread
• 1 cup chopped kalamata olives
• 1 chopped small yellow onion
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• Saute in 2 tablespoons olive oil until onions are tender. Cool. Add to dough during first kneading and proceed with recipe.
• Also, try finely chopped Rosemary in place of olives.

Preparation

Step 1

1. Mix sourdough starter, 2 cups water and 5 cups flour in a large bowl. Mix well; cover with a dish towel and let rise 8 hours or overnight.
2. Combine yeast, 1/2 cup warm water, and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Let stand 5 min. until mixture bubbles.
3. Place flour mixture in a the bowl of a stand mixture. Add yeast mixture, salt and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar. Mix well. With your hands or a dough hook, knead while gradually adding up to 2 additional cups of flour; 1/2 cup at a time. Knead until a smooth, soft dough forms. Dough should be shiny and supple, not sticky and wet. If you plan to add additional ingredients (see note) add them at this point so they are evenly distributed.
4. Place dough in an oiled bowl; cover with a dishtowel and let rise about 2 hours.
5. Punch down and divide in half for 2 large loaves or fourths for 4 smaller loaves. Knead each portion by hand on a lightly floured surface until smooth; shape into rounds. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and lightly cover with a dishtowel. Let rise 1 hour, until double in size.
7. Preheat oven to 375F. Just before placing bread in the oven, place an ovenproof bowl filled with 2 cups of water or ice cubes in the bottom of oven to create steam to help bread form a crisp crust.
8. Slash tops of loaves with a sharp knife. For a rustic look, sprinkle with flour. Bake about 24 min. until loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Makes 2 loaves, 12 servings each