WHOLE WHEAT SOURDOUGH BREAD

I get the impression a lot of people are interested in healthful living upgrades. By that I mean they are looking at exercise programs and diet plans, or getting back to a lifestyle that got disrupted by holiday parties and overindulgences. I also get the impression a growing number of people are making lifestyle changes such as cooking with locally grown foods. I’m pleased to see many people also using sourdough. Maintaining sourdough starter is sort of like keeping your own chickens or rabbits. It’s not just a recipe, it’s part of a healthy, do-it-yourself lifestyle. With that in mind, I’d like to share my approach to making one version of this very basic and delicious bread.

 

This recipe is for a single loaf of bread, but can be adjusted for more if desired. The process begins with making a sponge, to which you will add flour and salt and knead into bread dough. I’m assuming you have a starter on hand, but I discuss how to make one in an earlier posting if you don’t. Take a half cup of starter, and add one and a half cups of very warm water. Mix thoroughly. Add about one and a half cups of whole wheat flour, mixing in two or three heaping tablespoons at a time.  Mix well and keep adding flour until you have a thick batter, but not so thick it clears the sides of the container when stirred. Cover and let stand in a warm place until it doubles in bulk, about one to two hours.

I mix my sponges in a see-through plastic container. This way, I can keep track of the progress. First, tiny bubble form, then the bubbles get bigger as the sponge rises. You can take the lid off and get a sniff of the yeast if you like, but keep it covered while rising. By using clear containers, I can mentally mark the point at which the sponge will have doubled in bulk, and even gauge how long to go before reaching that point when I check in to see how things are going.

When the sponge has doubled, it’s time to knead the remaining cup of flour into the dough. If you think the sponge is too loose to start kneading, stir in more flour until the mixture clears the side of the container as you stir. Next, I sprinkle a handful of flour onto my trusty pastry cloth and empty the sponge on top of it, and sprinkle more flour on top of that. Add a teaspoon of sea salt and begin kneading the dough, folding the far edge over on top and pushing against the dough with the heels of your hands. When the dough is ready, it should be smooth and elastic, and spring back if you poke your finger into it. Next, grease the sides and bottom of a bread pan and add the dough. Work the dough into the bottom, sides and corners of the pan, then turn it over and repeat the process. That way, the dough will be lightly covered in the oil or grease you used to coat the pan. Bake about an hour uncovered in a preheated oven at three hundred and fifty degrees until lightly browned and the loaf has pulled away from the sides of the pan. You can test for doneness by taking the loaf out and tapping it with a finger. The bread should have a nice, hollow sound. If you like, you can brush milk or melted butter over the top of the loaf for the last few minutes of cooking to ensure a softer crust and golden brown finish.

A loaf of fresh bread you truly made from scratch is like a salad from the greens you grew in your own garden, truly wonderful. By the way, keep that in mind this summer; the two really go well together. In the meantime, enjoy a slice of toast and homemade jam in front of a warm fire, and thanks for visiting my blog.

 Ingredients to make the sponge

½ cup sourdough starter

1 ½ cups warm water
1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

 Ingredients to make the dough

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 cup whole wheat flour