Extremely Simple Sourdough Boule Recipe
Sourdough is all the rage nowadays. Everywhere you turn on Instagram you see perfectly scored loaves of sourdough and hours of looping stretch and folds. I am not here for that. I do not have time to spend laboring over stretch and folds or laminating methods. Instead, I focus on simple sourdough recipes that my family loves. Today I am going to be sharing my husband’s personal favorite, a extremely simple sourdough boule recipe, that is a must add to your bread making repertoire.
What Makes This Simple Sourdough Boule So Simple?
Sourdough gets a really bad rap for being time consuming and difficult, but would you believe this boule comes together in 10 minutes with a rise time of only 2 hours!
How is that possible you ask?
It is because this boule is a hybrid. Meaning that it using both conventional yeast and sourdough starter. The nice thing about this loaf is that it doesn’t require the starter to be active and bubbly, but you still get the benefits of the fermented starter.
Now to be fair, a traditional sourdough loaf is going to have some additional benefits, but when you are in a time crunch, this is the loaf for you. Even better, it doesn’t even require a mixer; simply a bowl, spoon, and a bench scraper if you have it.
What Makes This Simple Sourdough Boule Different From Traditional Sourdough
Traditional Sourdough typically has a bigger crumb texture than this Simple Sourdough Boule. That is because of the rise time and the time allowed to develop larger air pockets.
This Simple Sourdough Boule also has a softer crust texture than a traditional sourdough boule has. This boule also has a less tangy sourdough taste than a traditional loaf so it is a great option if you and your family are just starting on your sourdough journey.
Regardless of the differences, this loaf is amazing and I know your family is going to love it! It has quickly become one of our go to breads and my husband’s favorite.
Ingredients for Simple Sourdough Boule
The ingredient list for this simple sourdough boule is pretty, well, simple!
- All Purpose Unbleached Flour- We love King Arthur, but any brand will do.
- Active Dry Yeast- I purchase our Yeast in bulk through Azure Standard
- Salt- Redman’s Real Salt is the best hands down. Not only is it mined in the US, but it also contains trace minerals that your body needs!
- Sourdough Starter- your starter can be active and bubbly or straight from the fridge! That is the beauty of this simple sourdough boule!
- Water- We stay away from chlorinated water in any of our sourdough recipes as it can kill the wild yeast. So filtered or distilled water is best.
How to Make this Extremely Simple Sourdough Boule
This is seriously the easiest bread you will likely ever make. There are a few important things to consider before you make it. You will want to use a dutch oven with a lid or you will need to add a pan of water to the oven to provide moisture during the bake. It is important to preheat your dutch oven for this one. I have tried it with a cold dutch oven and while it does okay, it is not quite a springy as I like.
You will want a bench scraper if you are going to start making bread. They are fairly inexpensive and are really useful for so many things.
You are also going to want to get a kitchen scale to weigh out ingredients. This is not super important, but it does help it to be more accurate. This recipe is in grams, so a kitchen scale will help to make following this recipe easier.
Step 1:
In a large bowl combine flour, yeast, salt, water, and starter. Mix together with a wooden spoon until no more dry flour is visible.
Step 2:
Cover with a damp tea towel and allow to set in a warm place for about 2 hours.
Step 3:
About 30 minutes before you are ready to bake, preheat your dutch oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 4:
Turn your dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Using your bench scraper, shape the dough into a tight round loaf. Use the tension from the counter to shape tightly. Place shaped loaf onto a piece of parchment and carefully transfer to preheated dutch oven.
Step 5:
Cover and bake for 45 minutes at 425 degrees. Remove from oven and remove lid. The boule should be beautifully brown. Allow to cool completely before slicing.
That’s it! It is truly that simple!
Ways to Eat Sourdough
Our favorite way to eat this sourdough boule is toasted with butter and honey. It is a staple with all our meals and a family favorite all the way from breakfast to dinner.
You can also enjoy with some delicious strawberry jam or apple butter!
We hope you enjoy this beautiful and extremely simple sourdough boule and look forward to hearing about your baking adventures in the comments below!
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram as well to stay up to date on what is happening here at the farm!
Simple Sourdough Boule
Equipment
- Dutch Oven with lid
- bench scraper
Ingredients
- 450 grams Unbleached All Purpose Flour
- 8 grams Active Dry Yeast
- 15 grams Salt
- 350 grams water
- 150 grams Sourdough starter active or discard
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl with a wooden spoon until mixed
- Cover with a damp tea towel and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 ½ to 2 hours
- Preheat dutch oven for 30 minutes prior to baking at 425℉
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape into a round loaf using a bench scraper and the tension on the counter. Place shaped loaf onto parchment and place in preheated dutch oven. Cover with lid and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove from Dutch Oven and allow to cool completely before slicing
