Ballerina Farm Sourdough Bread Recipe

Ballerina Farm’s sourdough bread is all about old-fashioned, homemade baking. Instead of using regular yeast, they use a natural sourdough starter, which gives the bread a unique taste, and texture, and some health benefits.

The secret ingredient in Ballerina Farm’s sourdough bread is their natural sourdough starter. It’s basically a mix of flour and water left to sit for a few days, allowing wild yeast and good bacteria to grow. This special process not only makes the bread taste and smell different but also makes it easier to digest because it breaks down gluten and complex crabs.

To make Ballerina Farm’s sourdough bread, they mix strong white bread flour, wholemeal bread flour, sourdough starter, water, and salt. After mixing, they let the dough rest for a bit, then knead and shape it. The dough takes its time to rise for up to 6 hours, which gives the bread its unique flavor.

When it’s time to bake, they put the dough into a hot pot or Dutch oven in a hot oven. The pot traps steam, making the crust crispy and the inside soft and airy.

Not only does Ballerina Farm’s sourdough bread taste great, but it’s also healthy. The natural fermentation process makes it more nutritious by increasing vitamins and minerals. Plus, it’s a healthier choice because it doesn’t have any added chemicals or preservatives like many store-bought types of bread.

The Story Behind this recipe

Sourdough bread is one of the oldest types of bread around, going back thousands of years. People used it to make bread rise before they had commercial yeast. They did this by mixing flour and water and letting it sit so that wild yeast and bacteria naturally found in the environment could make the bread puff up.

In the mid-1800s, sourdough bread got super popular in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. French bakers brought their sourdough culture to the city, and it became a favorite food for miners and settlers.

Even today, sourdough bread is loved all over the world for its unique taste and texture. Different bakers, like those at Ballerina Farm, have their own special recipes and methods for making sourdough bread, which means you can find all kinds of delicious styles and flavors.

What is ballerina farm sourdough?

Ballerina Farm’s sourdough is a classic recipe made with everyday flour, sea salt, and an active starter, which is just a mix of flour, water, and yeast. After mixing and kneading the dough until it’s soft and stretchy, you can shape it into a round loaf or any shape you like.

Then, you let it sit and rise before baking. The outcome is bread with a crispy outside and a chewy inside. It has a mild, slightly tangy taste that goes great with lots of different foods.

INGREDIENTS

• 400g strong white bread flour
• 100g wholemeal bread flour
• 300g sourdough starter (100% hydration)
• 300ml warm water
• 2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. In a big bowl, mix together the flour, sourdough starter, and warm water until it becomes a rough dough.
2. Cover the bowl with a wet cloth and let the dough sit for 30 minutes.
3. Add the salt to the dough and knead it for 10-15 minutes until it becomes smooth and stretchy.
4. Shape the dough into a ball and put it in a big, oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with a wet cloth and leave the dough in a warm spot for 4-6 hours, or until it doubles in size.
5. Heat your oven to 220°C/425°F/Gas Mark 7. Put a cast iron pot with a lid inside the oven and let it get hot for at least 30 minutes.
6. Once the dough has risen, carefully put it into the hot pot. Use a sharp knife to make some cuts on the top of the dough.
7. Put the lid on the pot and bake for 30 minutes.
8. After 30 minutes, take the lid off the pot and keep baking for another 10-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
9. Take the bread out of the pot and let it cool on a wire rack before cutting it into slices.

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You can serve with

Ballerina Farm’s sourdough bread goes great with lots of different dishes. Here are some tasty ideas for what you can enjoy with your homemade bread:

Cheese: Pair your bread with your favorite cheese for a yummy snack or appetizer. Try it with soft cheeses like brie or goat cheese, or go for harder cheeses like cheddar and Gouda.

Sandwiches: Make your go-to sandwich using your homemade sourdough bread. You can go classic with turkey and avocado, or enjoy a grilled cheese.

Soup: Dip your sourdough bread into soups like tomato soup, minestrone, or lentil soup for a comforting combo.