Sourdough Bread
Arán Taos géar– Sourdough Bread
A good loaf of arán takes patience, but not much else.
Here’s a straightforward way to make a simple sourdough loaf at home.
Simple ingredients. Good bread.
Prep time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Cooking time: 35 - 40 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 500g/1lb 2oz strong unbleached white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
- 300g/10½oz sourdough starter
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- flavourless oil, for greasing
Method
-
Mix together the flour, sourdough starter and 250ml/9fl oz water in a bowl. Add the sugar and salt. Turn out on to a surface and knead for 10 minutes or until the 'windowpane effect' is achieved (where the dough can be stretched until it is so thin that it becomes transparent).
- Put the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp teatowel and leave to prove for 2½–3 hours. You won't notice as much of a rise in the dough as you would with a normal, yeasted bread and it will take a lot longer.
- Turn out the dough onto a surface and knock back. Portion the dough into two and shape into two ball-shaped loaves. Flour generously, and place each loaf seam-side up in a bowl, lined with a couche cloth or a heavily-floured teatowel – without the cloth, your loaf will stick in the bowl and you won't be able to turn it out. Leave to prove for a further 2½ hours.
- Preheat the oven to 230C/210C Fan/Gas 8. Put a few ice cubes or cold water into a baking tin and place in the bottom of the oven to create steam. Turn the loaves out onto a baking tray or hot baking stone. Using a thin sharp knife score two or three times on the top of the loaf and place in the oven. Bake for 35–40 minutes or until a good crust has formed and the loaves sound hollow when tapped on the base. Slather freshly sliced with butter and NBF Blackcurrant.
Ingredients
- 500g/1lb 2oz strong unbleached white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
- 300g/10½oz sourdough starter
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp salt
- flavourless oil, for greasing
Method
-
Mix together the flour, sourdough starter and 250ml/9fl oz water in a bowl. Add the sugar and salt. Turn out on to a surface and knead for 10 minutes or until the 'windowpane effect' is achieved (where the dough can be stretched until it is so thin that it becomes transparent).
- Put the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp teatowel and leave to prove for 2½–3 hours. You won't notice as much of a rise in the dough as you would with a normal, yeasted bread and it will take a lot longer.
- Turn out the dough onto a surface and knock back. Portion the dough into two and shape into two ball-shaped loaves. Flour generously, and place each loaf seam-side up in a bowl, lined with a couche cloth or a heavily-floured teatowel – without the cloth, your loaf will stick in the bowl and you won't be able to turn it out. Leave to prove for a further 2½ hours.
- Preheat the oven to 230C/210C Fan/Gas 8. Put a few ice cubes or cold water into a baking tin and place in the bottom of the oven to create steam. Turn the loaves out onto a baking tray or hot baking stone. Using a thin sharp knife score two or three times on the top of the loaf and place in the oven. Bake for 35–40 minutes or until a good crust has formed and the loaves sound hollow when tapped on the base. Slather freshly sliced with butter and NBF Blackcurrant.