Description
This Dutch oven sourdough bread has a crusty exterior and soft, airy interior, developed through natural fermentation and baking in a Dutch oven for that perfect artisan texture and flavor.
Ingredients
500g bread flour (about 4 cups)
100g active sourdough starter (about 1/2 cup)
350g water (about 1½ cups), room temperature
10g fine sea salt (about 2 tsp)
Rice flour or cornmeal, for dusting
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the active sourdough starter and water, stirring to dissolve.
- Add the flour and mix until no dry bits remain. Cover and let rest for 45 minutes (autolyse).
- Sprinkle in the salt and mix it in with wet hands, kneading or performing stretch-and-folds until fully incorporated.
- Cover and rest the dough at room temperature for 4 hours, performing 3–4 sets of stretch-and-folds every 30 minutes.
- After the final fold, cover the dough and let it rest for another hour.
- On a lightly floured surface, shape the dough into a round boule.
- Transfer the dough into a well-floured proofing basket or bowl lined with a floured kitchen towel.
- Cover and refrigerate for 8–12 hours to ferment overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 475°F (245°C) with the Dutch oven inside for 45 minutes.
- Remove the dough from the fridge, place parchment over the basket, and flip the dough onto it. Score the top.
- Carefully lower the dough (on the parchment) into the hot Dutch oven.
- Cover and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 25 minutes until deep golden brown.
- Remove and let the loaf cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.
Notes
Use a very active sourdough starter that doubles in size within 4–6 hours after feeding.
Don’t skip the overnight fermentation—it improves flavor and texture.
To add flavor, mix herbs, seeds, or olives into the dough before the final shaping.
For best crust, bake with the Dutch oven lid on for steam, then remove for browning.
Store sliced bread in the freezer for longer shelf life.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Artisan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 0.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
