Make your own sourdough starter

Would you like to start baking your own sourdough bread? It’s a very easy bread to bake and many say that it is a healthier option and gentler on our tummies. Thanks to the long raising process and the fact you don’t use any yeast, it doesn’t leave you feeling bloated after eating.

But before you can make the bread, you’ll need a sourdough starter. This would work as a substitute for yeast. It’s very easy to make, but requires some time, six days to be exact.

Here’s how you make it:

Day 1

In a large sterilised glass jar, add equal amounts of strong white bread flour and water. I find that 100 grams of each is a good amount but this will depend on the size of your jar. Also add 1 tsp of honey. This will help the initial raising process. Mix around using a wooden spoon or a long chopstick until smooth.

Cover with cling film (this helps keep the humidity) and then put the lid on loosely. Place in a warm place in your kitchen, i.e. the top of the fridge and leave for 2 days.

Day 3

You should now see that the mixture has risen slightly and that there are bubbles formed on the top.

Add equal amounts of flour and water and mix around. Cover and leave for another day

Day 4

Repeat step from day 3.

Day 5

Now your sourdough should be ready to use. You can either put it in the fridge and use for a later stage and keep “feeding” it time to time, or you can use it immediately.

The sourdough starter will last for years, maybe forever? If kept it the fridge and fed with flour and water about once a week

Once your starter is done, you’ll be able to bake the most delicious bread.