Sourdough Bread- How Do I Make It?
I had a question from my good friend Darlene in Ottawa today about how to make sourdough bread. I’m not a total bread expert, but I have friend that are…
Dennis Weaver and the folks over at Prepared Pantry have been at this game for years, and I refer to them for these kinds of technical bread questions. This from their site…
“Sourdough simply uses wild yeast in place of commercial yeast to leaven the bread. It relies on the wild yeasts that are in the air all around us and cultures those yeasts in a warm, wet environment created with water, flour, and sometimes other components.
When creating a sourdough starter, we always felt like we were on an expedition trying to trap invisible yeastie beasties with our flour and water concoctions. Because we couldn’t see the beasties, we were never sure what we had captured. While usually successful, we never felt like we were in control. Maybe that is the way sourdough bread should feel, a symbiosis with nature.
But there is an easier way: use commercial yeast in the starter. I know, that’s heresy to the sourdough bread zealot but we only care about the bread. Using commercial yeast is easier, it’s the alcohol from the long cool fermentation that creates the sourdough-like flavor, and the wild yeasts will eventually take over the starter anyway. Because it’s easy, it’s no big deal if you abandon your starter after a few weeks; you can readily start another when you’re back in the mood or have the time.”
Here is the link to their site that will walk you through it step-by-step…
How to make Sourdough Bread
Enjoy Darlene!… and everyone else of course 
Yours in Food & Friendship,
Chef Kevin
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Sordough bread—I see the point of using the commercial yeast as a starter. But it won’t be sourdough bread anymore if not with the wild yeast. What ya think?
Hi There… and thanks for dropping in
True enough, but wild yeast is quite unpredictable. Perhaps using a small amount of commercial yeast to get it started and then letting the wild yeast kick in would be a good balance with nature… It would never please sourdough purists, but still would make a good bread…
Your in Food & Friendship,
Chef Kevin
I got a Sunbeam bread machine and would like to find a sourdough bread recipe and a asiago cheese bread recipe, too. Do you know any good cook books that have good bread recipes for my bread machine, also?
Hi There…
Amazon has one here:
http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_ss_b_0_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=bread+machine+cookbook&sprefix=bread+machine
Enjoy!
CK
I’m in search of an easy sourdough bread or roll recipe. I don’t have a starter, but am willing to start one.Thanks!
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I have a Sunbeam bread machine and would like a sourdough bread recipe and an Asiago cheese bread recipe found somewhere. Are you a good cook books good bread recipes for my bread machine, too?
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