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I know what you’re thinking, why is it called “lazy” sourdough sandwich bread? Well simple, this bread uses sourdough discard, which is what you throw away (or in most sourdough bakers’ case *save*) when you feed your sourdough starter. I store mine in a mason jar in the fridge. It keeps for a month (ish) and I use it to make things like crackers, pancakes, muffins, pie crust, etc. If you’ve not been following me long, my oldest daughter is severely allergic to eggs in all forms and my husband is super sensitive to dairy so most of my baking is vegan. We do eat a lot of plant-based items simply because of the health benefits, but we are not completely vegan.
In the case of this “lazy” bread it’s called lazy because it uses sourdough discard for that lovely sourdough flavor, but it uses instant yeast to get the bread to rise. The removes the need for a bulk overnight rise and you have bread ready in just a few hours. I use this recipe mostly when I’m making bread for the girls. It’s softer and better for sandwiches than an artisan loaf. I prefer the taste of artisan loaves, after all, I love sourdough for that sour yummy taste and that crusty crust. However, the girls devour this bread. DEVOUR. Please see below, actual GIF of my daughter eating bread.
In a medium bowl, whisk the sourdough discard with water. Then add honey/maple, oil and instant yeast.
In a large bowl, add both types of flour and sea salt. Pour the liquid ingredients over top and start to mix everything together.
Once the bread dough starts to form, turn it out on a floured surface. Knead the dough for about 15 mins by hand until stretchy and elastic. If you have a stand mixer and dough hook you can try that for 5 mins instead.
Add the dough ball to an oiled bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled (about an hour). I use my oven (off) with the oven light on.
Line loaf pan with parchment paper.
After rising, turn the dough out on the counter. Flatten gently into a rectangle with your hands, then fold over 1/3 from the left, then 1/3 the right. Now roll the dough up tightly from the bottom to form a loaf shape. Tuck under the ends slightly and pinch the seams where you see them. Seams should be on the bottom and the top should have some tension but not ripping. Note: I am not amazing at loaf shaping and mine always turn out fine. Don't stress over this step.
Place the dough loaf in the pan. Cover the loaf lightly with a towel and let rise for 1 hour. Notes: Here is where I set the loaf on top of the stove while my oven preheats. They get a good second rise that way.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Make 3 diagonal cuts across the top about 1/2 inch deep with a sharp blade (I dip mine in cold water before cutting). Then place the loaf in the oven and bake for about 40 minutes until it looks golden brown and sounds hollow. You can check the internal temp with a thermometer too. I prefer this method. 180-200°F is done.
Remove from pan let cool completely before slicing.
If I am not going to need this loaf any time soon (within the next week), I will slice it completely and store it in the freezer in an airtight container. Toasting the frozen slices as needed is perfect and tastes great!
Keyword bread, sourdough, vegan
The kids know the bread is ready as soon as it’s out of the oven. It’s like a spidey-sense, I swear.
Your sourdough crust goes soft after cooling because there is still too much moisture in your bread. The baking process should have removed this moisture, but if it's too short, the moisture remains in the crust and softens it as soon as the sourdough cools.
Sourdough discard bread combines sourdough discard with either active-dry or instant yeast, resulting in a quicker proofing times. In contrast, sourdough bread relies solely on an active sourdough starter for leavening.
Try to minimise the amount of rice flour you use and brush off the excess before baking. If you are rubbing your dough with flour before baking to accentuate your scored designs, this too can dehydrate your crust, causing it to be tougher and more chewy.
Keeping the lid on for the first part of baking allows steam to expand between the gluten fibers to rise the bread and create a fluffy loaf. Step 4: Remove the lid and bake for an additional 12-14 minutes or until the crust is crispy and golden brown. Once you take the lid off, the bread likely won't rise anymore.
If you want a lighter fluffier bread loaf just add 2 Tbsp of dry milk to the flour per loaf of your bread. Vinegar has a very similar effect to the dough as the ascorbic acid. It helps hold the dough together and strengthens the bubbles so they won't pop.
One of the most common mistakes is having a dough temperature that's too low for the starter to feed on all the flour in the dough, resulting in a crumb that's dense, with fewer openings. "Starter is happiest and most active at around 75 degrees. If it's a lot colder, the process will be much slower.
Adding 2 tablespoons of instant dry milk powder per loaf of bread will help your bread rise higher, stay soft, and hold the moisture longer. That means it won't get stale as quickly. Dry milk powder creates a more golden brown crust and improves nutrition, too.
I recommend keeping sourdough discard for about one week, but I do know others who keep it for much longer. After one week, there is a higher risk of mold or bad bacteria growing on the discard.
Sourdough discard is rich in probiotics, which can help promote a healthy gut microbiome and improve digestion. It's also a good source of fiber, which can help regulate blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, and promote feelings of fullness.
Whole wheat flour is an excellent choice for creating a sourdough starter due to its nutrient-rich composition and potential for fostering a robust microbial community.
If the dough isn't mixed or kneaded to full development (e.g., full windowpane), adding in sets of stretch and folds during bulk fermentation will help continue its progress toward a firmer, more cohesive dough that's able to trap gas and hold its shape all the way to bake time.
The best flour blend for creating a new sourdough starter is 50% whole-meal flour (whole wheat or whole rye) and 50% bread flour or all-purpose flour. I recommend a 50/50 mix of whole wheat flour and bread flour.
It might be cold dough. One of the most common mistakes is having a dough temperature that's too low for the starter to feed on all the flour in the dough, resulting in a crumb that's dense, with fewer openings. "Starter is happiest and most active at around 75 degrees.
Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.
Similarly, the steam (often created by spraying the surface of your dough with water) is what gives you that deep, rich, dark sourdough crust. It mixes with the sugars still present in the dough.
Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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