Food & Drink

How To Make Sourdough Country Bread

Sourdough Country Bread recipe. This version of sourdough bread will not only fill your kitchen with its yummy smell but you will also find it filled with people waiting to taste it. Enlarge

How To Make Sourdough Country Bread

Sourdough Country Bread recipe. This version of sourdough bread will not only fill your kitchen with its yummy smell but you will also find it filled with people waiting to taste it.

Prep:
5m
Cook:
16h
Total:
16h:5m
Serves:
4
Temp:
220° c  -  430° f

Step 1: You will need:

  • 260 g flour
  • 190 g cold water
  • 40 g rye flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 140 g sourdough
  • a pinch of fresh yeast
  • some extra whole wheat flour, for dusting
  • some extra flour, for dusting
  • 1 spray bottle
  • 1 mixer with hook attachment
  • 1 wooden basket lined with cotton
  • 1 plastic bag
  • 1 baking tray
  • 1 tea towel
  • 1 small, sharp knife

Step 2: Begin the dough

Tip the flour into the mixer. Follow with the water, rye flour, salt, sourdough and the yeast. Let it mix on slow for 5 minutes.

Step 3: Continue the dough

Dust the dough on the hook with flour and remove it from the mixer. Dust the table with a little flour, place the dough into it and sprinkle it over with flour. Knead the dough for 5 minutes using the heel of your hand and form it into a ball. Dust it with a little more flour and cover with a clean tea towel. Let it sit for 40 minutes. After this time, knead the dough for a few seconds more. This second knead is optional, but it will strengthen the bread's structure. Form the dough into a ball and cover it again. Let it rest, once more for a further 40 minutes.

Step 4: Let the dough rise

Dust the bottom of the wooden basket with the whole wheat flour. As the dough will have flattened, roll it into a ball again. Place the ball into the basket, seam-side up and cover with a plastic bag. Let it sit at room temperature for 1 hour then place it overnight in the fridge, to double in volume. If it hasn't risen enough, leave it out at room temperature until it has doubled in size. You can then continue to the next step.

Step 5: Preheat the oven

Set your oven to 220ºC (425ºF/ gas mark 7).

Step 6: Bake

Dust the tray with a little bit of flour. Place the bread onto the tray, upside down being careful not to let it deflate. Make 2 or 3 deep cuts into the bread and place it into the oven. Spray the oven with a little bit of water and bake for 15 minutes. Lower the heat to 180°C (350ºF/ gas mark 4), after this time. Let it bake for another 20 minutes then remove.

Step 7: Serve

Place the bread to cool on a rack and once cooled, serve.