Description
A simple overnight sourdough bread with a crisp golden crust and a chewy, airy crumb, perfect for beginner-friendly artisan baking at home.
Ingredients
4 cups organic white bread flour (520 g)
2 teaspoons fine sea salt (12 g)
1 7/8 cups water (385 g)
90 g sourdough starter (about 1/3 cup), fed 8 to 12 hours earlier
Rice flour for dusting (optional)
Seeds such as fennel, chia, flax, caraway, sesame, or poppy (optional)
Fresh or dried herbs such as rosemary or thyme (optional)
Instructions
- Feed the sourdough starter 8 to 12 hours before mixing and let it become active.
- In a bowl, combine flour, salt, and optional seeds or herbs.
- In another bowl, mix starter with water until cloudy, then combine with dry ingredients to form a shaggy dough. Rest for 15 minutes.
- Perform stretch-and-folds with wet hands for about 30 seconds. Rest 15 minutes and repeat once more.
- Cover and let the dough proof overnight at room temperature for 8 to 12 hours until expanded and slightly domed.
- In the morning, check that the dough is airy and springs back slowly when poked.
- Shape the dough gently and place it into a parchment-lined bowl or floured banneton. Dust with flour or seeds if desired.
- Refrigerate uncovered for 1 hour while preheating oven and Dutch oven to 500°F.
- Score the dough and transfer it into the hot Dutch oven. Cover with lid.
- Bake covered for 20 minutes (or 25 minutes without convection), then uncover, reduce heat to 450°F, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more until deeply golden and internal temperature reaches 204 to 208°F.
- Cool on a rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.
Notes
Use wet hands to handle sticky dough during folding.
Add seeds or herbs for flavor variations without changing the method.
Dusting with rice flour gives a rustic artisan look.
Store at room temperature in a paper bag or towel for up to 2 days.
Freeze sliced bread for up to 2 months and reheat in a toaster or oven.
A Dutch oven gives the best crust, but a baking stone with steam can work.
- Prep Time: 13 hours
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Dutch Oven Baking
- Cuisine: Artisan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 154 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 390 mg
- Fat: 0.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
