Here’s a record of Aedy’s first and highly successful attempt at making a sourdough loaf. A lot of work, but it does make a unique loaf. You need to make a starter first.

The night before you want to make the loaf, take

  • 1 tbs starter
  • 50g strong white flour
  • 50g tepid water

Mix in a bowl and leave overnight. Then add

  • 300g water

Stir to mix. Add

  • 500g strong white flour

Mix until you can’t see any more flour. Cover and prove in a warm place for two or three hours. Then remove, sprinkle over

  • 10g salt
  • 25g water

Mix until combined. It will now look and feel like soft chewing gum. Pour onto a flat surface and get kneading. Strench, pull fold, flip over, scrape, repeat. It will be wet, gooey and messy. Keep going. Eventually it will sort of ball up and won’t stick to your hands so much. Don’t be tempted to add flour, this is sourdough not normal bread. (Angela says scoop from the middle, stretch up and flop it forward). This can take 10-15 minutes.

Now put it into a bowl. With wet hands, stretch and fold dough, grab one side and stretch over the other side. Do this on both sides. Flip it over and tuck the sides in. Cover and prove for 20 minutes in a warm place. Do this three times!

Then scrape out onto a well-floured surface and gently form into a ball. Dust a lined proofing basket with flour and pop the ball gently into it. Prove in a warm place for one hour.

Heat the over to the max setting or 250C and put in a lidded casserole dish to heat up. Cut a sling from baking paper to hold the base of the loaf and have two “handles” so you can lift the bread into the casserole. Invert the dough onto the parchment. Slash the top with a sharp knife, remember to cut parallel to make “shelves” as it rises. Take the very hot casserole out of the oven, gently lift the dough into it, put the lid on then bake for 20 minutes.

Turn the temperature down to 230C and bake for another 15 minutes.

Take the lid off and continue to bake for a further 15 minutes until very golden and crusty.

Remove and cool on a wire rack.

Finis.

Told you it was a lot of work.