Beginners Simple Artisan Sourdough Bread Loaf

Want a beginners simple artisan sourdough bread loaf that looks like you have been making bread for years? This EASY recipe has been game-changer in my kitchen and I know it can be in your kitchen as well.

Supplies for Simple Sourdough Bread Loaf:

Inexpensive Kitchen Scale (I tried to resist using a scale, but it honestly makes it wayyyy easier to get good results)
Bread Flour (I like King Arthur)
- You can get fancy later using flour you grind, but this is the keep-it-simple method until we get really good at bread making.
Dutch Oven (any will do and you can even get these used)

Recipe for Beginners Simple Artisan Sourdough Bread Loaf

Ingredients makes 2 loaves:

250 g active starter (this book teaches you everything you need to know about starter)
750 g lukewarm water
1,000 bread flour
25g salt

Beginner Sourdough Bread Steps:

Mix all ingredients by hand in a large bowl
Cover with a wet towel, wait 30 mins and stretch and fold
Do this 4 times waiting 30 mins between stretch and folds (or don’t, sometimes if I am in a rush I don’t do this step)
Allow it it bulk rise for 8-12 hours while it is covered with a wet towel (overnight works best)
Take out of the bowl and split the dough into two lumps of dough
Shape (envelope fold and cupping to form round) and place in a greased bowl. Cover with damp towel again.
- This video is a help if you want to see (but perfection isn’t the goal, just form the dough into nice ball)
Score dough (cut top into X to allow heat to come through)
Pre-Heat oven with dutch oven inside at 450 degrees
Bake in parchment paper in dutch oven, placing 3-5 ice cubes under the parchment paper for 30 minutes lid on and 15 lid off.
Then bake next loaf
Bread freezes wonderfully