All you need is LOVE, water and flour.
Its up to you what sourdough you want to make. With the same method you can make white or rye or wholemeal sourdough… I have my main sourdough made with rye flour – I use flour type 2000, which has got most minerals in it. Its strong and makes the best sourdough.
You will need the flour of your choice, jar, water and time…. and a warm place to keep your sourdough baby.
Start your sourdough either in the evening or morning, when you are home so you dont miss out on feeding or mixing time. Involve your family in it as well, let them look after it too.
First day: In your jar put 30gr of flour and 30gr of water, cover it up a tea towel. Leave it in a warm place (airing cupboard is perfect) After 12hours mix it well and leave it again covered.
Second day: (24 hours after you started with your dough) feed it again with 3 table spoons of flour and 3 table spoons of water, mix it well. Cover it and leave it for another 12 hours, before you mix it only again.
Third day: Feeding time again – add 3 table spoons of flour and 3 table spoons of water and mix it well. Leave it and mix it only after 12 hour. Leave it covered again till feeding time.
By third day you should be seeing some lovely bubbles
Fourth day: yes you have guessed it, its feeding time. Same as previously mix in three table spoons of flour and water and leave it covered again for 12 hours. Mix again and leave it covered again.
Fifth day: My friend your sour dough is ready, if you are in the hurry use it now but if not… feed it again with three table spoons of flour and water and leave it covered. After 12 hour mix it only and leave it covered again.
Sixth day: now your sour dough gets that nice rich colour and yeasty smell. Feed it with three table spoons of flour and and three table spoons of water. Mix it as always after 12 hours.
Day seven: is the day I would start using the sourdough….
Now this beauty is really ready to use for any baking, but like I said above you can use a five day one and it also works.
If you don’t use it then just store it in the fridge, it will last up to a week before you need to feed it again.
Feeding: always use the same amount of flour to water. That is all. that is the secret. If you have a scale use scales if not just use spoons or measuring cups.
With each week it will get darker in colour. Dont panic. You cannot go wrong with your sourdough it really takes a lot to kill it. I also freeze some just in case and to wake it up after freezing, you just take it out, put it in a jar and leave it in the fridge. When defrosted I feed it until bubbles form again.
If at any point your sourdough looks dry, just add a bit more water, and other way around. You do want bubbles so if your sourdough produces none just feed it and keep it in a WARM place. Feed it once every 24 hour
