Bakery Style Sourdough Bread

Submitted by Galley Wench

"Sourdough is believed to have originated in Ancient Egyptian times around 1500 BC, and was likely the first form of leavening available to bakers. This is amazing bread, is not difficult but does take some advance planning. The recipe and the step-by-step (and I do mean step-by-step) instructions come from Cook's Illustrated! The key is to use healthy refreshed starter. NOTE: If you are short on time, step #21 can be skipped, however the taste of bread will be effected slightly. Let me know if you need more information on how to refresh your starter."

 

• Ready In: 24hrs 45mins
• Ingredients: 6
• Serves: 12

ingredients

• 118.29 ml sourdough starter (proofed)
• 88.72-118.29 ml bottled water
• 236.59 ml unbleached flour (with high protein content, I use bread-making flour)
• 354.88 ml bottled water
• 1123.80 ml unbleached bread flour
• 12.32 ml table salt

directions

1. You will need a 1-quart bowl, a 2-quart or large bowl, a baking stone, a baking peel or rimless cookie sheet, spray bottle for water, and a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.

2. First make the sponge:

3. Combine starter, 1/2 cup bottled water.
4. Stir in 1 cup flour until combined, mixture should resemble thick pancake batter.
5. Cover container with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, 2 to 3 hours.

6. Make the Dough:

7. Use a mixer with dough hook (I used my bread machine on dough cycle).
8. Pour 1 1/2 cups water in large bowl.
9. Add 'sponge' to water.
10. With mixer running on low, add flour, 1/2 cup at a time.
11. Once all flour (4- 4 3/4 cups) has been added, continue kneading until forms a ball, about 1 minute longer. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rest 20 minutes.
12. Using fingers, create a pocket in rested dough; add salt to pocket. Knead dough until forms a firm ball. about 6 minutes. (If using mixer, knead at low speed, until dough is soft, smooth and moist, should not be sticky, about 5 minutes. Transfer dough to clean work surface and knead by hand until dough forms firm ball, about 1 additional minute).
13. Lightly spray bowl with non-stick cooking spray; place dough in container and lightly spray surface of dough. Set in draft-free area (room temperature) and let stand until doubles in bulk 3 to 5 hours.
14. Once doubled in bulk, remove the dough to clean work surface.
15. Stretch the dough (to redistribute and refresh yeast) as far as possible without tearing, then fold into thirds like a letter.
16. Divide the dough in half using chef's knife.
17. Form each half into rough ball, cover loosley with plasic wrap or damp kitchen towel, and let rise for 15 minutes.
18. Using your hands to push the dough against the unfloured work surface, form a taught ball without ripping the surface.
19. Pinch bottom seam and set each round, seam side down, on separate sheets of parchment paper on dinner plates.
20. Spray rounds lightly with non-stick cooking oil and cover loosley, but completely, with plastic wrap.
21. Refrigerate for 8- 12 hours.
22. Remove the rounds from refrigerator and gently slide (with parchment paper) on to room-temperature surface where they can rise undisturbed for several hours.
23. Loosen plastic wrap to allow rounds to rise; let rise until double in bulk and dough barely springs back when poked with your knuckle, 3-4 hours.
24. Place baking stone on lower-middle position.
25. Preheat oven to 500°F.
26. Carefully slide rounds on parchment to baking peel or rimless cookie sheet.
27. Using sharp knife slash rounds diagonally.
28. Spray loaves with water and slide carefully on to baking stone.
29. Immediately reduce the temperature to 450°.
30. During the first 5 minutes spray the loaves 2 additional times.
31. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes.
32. Transfer loaves to wire rack and cool to room temperature.

Reviews

[ivan d.]

just thought I would say something about this bread in one word excellent iv'e been making this bread for apprx. 3 yrs. now and everybody I give some wants more I wanted to say thanks for all your sourdough recipies English muffins,waffles,pancakes all excellent again thanks

 

[StephaniePB]

This is amazing bread. I have even managed to absolutely destroy it putting it into the oven (stuck on the peel, totally deflated hitting the stone), and it perked up again while baking to make a beautiful loaf. The interior crumb is like nothing else. I don't know what it is about I find whenever possible now I follow at least part of this method, even if not the ingredients, it's hard not to make a teeny bit of extra effort (when I have the time) when the results are so amazing. Thank you for sharing!!

 

[Bonnie G #2]

I wish I could give this TEN stars, it is so good. Thanks Galley Wench for a great recipe. My only question is on step #22, I wasn't sure what it meant by "proof" then slash. But even with that - it turned out wonderful and was a big hit with the whole family, as a matter of fact DH stated "this is the best he's ever had!" It looks like a lot of steps, but actually it's just very detailed, clear instructions. I'll be making this many times in the future. Thanks for a great recipe. 5-1-2016:

 

[cylee]

I made this last weekend, it was FABULOUS! I failed to read the entire recipe through before starting, so I had to skip the time in the fridge... The bread looked and tasted as good or better than what you get from the bakery.....my coworkers demolished both loaves in no time! I'm making it again this weekend, will follow the recipe exactly this time! Thanks, GW!

 

[Nimz_]

I'll agree that this is labor intense, but so worth it. I don't know what happened but I totally skipped #15 and didn't fold it, so I don't know if that changed the bread a significant amount or not. The 450 degrees worked fine for me. The bread came out exactly how I wanted it, crisp outside with a chewy texture inside. This recipe takes some planning, but you won't be disappointed. Thanks GW