Basic Sourdough

A workhorse sourdough. The recipe is adapted from the King Arthur Flour No-Knead Recipe. See also the detailed walkthrough.

Ingredients

  • 200 grams sourdough starter at peak activity

  • 400 ml lukewarm water

  • 610 grams flour

  • 18 grams salt

  • 2 teaspoons diastatic malt powder (optional)

Directions

  • Dissolve starter in water in a large bowl.

  • Mix in flour, salt, and malt powder (if using) to form a dough. Note that it will be somewhat shaggy and loose.

  • Cover and let rest for 1 hour.

  • Dip hand in water (to prevent sticking) and perform a series of turns by reaching down one side of the bowl and pulling the dough from the bottom to the top. Cover and let rest again for one hour.

  • Perform another series of turns. Cover, and let rest an additional hour before performing an additional set of turns for a total of 3 series of turns.

  • Place bowl in refrigerator for 8-48 hours.

  • Remove bowl from fridge and form the dough into a ball on a floured counter. Let rest 15 minutes.

  • Place dough into floured banneton or bowl lined with floured cloth. Cover and let rest for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Note dough will not rise much but will warm and relax.

  • 45 minutes before baking, preheat oven to 450° and place a pizza steel or stone on the top rack.

  • Immediately before baking, place a cookie sheet on the bottom rack of the oven and fill with water. This will produce steam during the baking process

  • Turn dough onto a pizza peel, score the top, and slide onto pizza steel. Bake for 40 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 210°.