Knead Not Sourdough Food

NO-KNEAD SOURDOUGH BREAD

Steps:

• Mix together the dry ingredients in large non-metalic bowl.
• In measuring cup mix together water and sourdough starter.
• Mix in liquid until the flour is incorporated. The consistency should be firm and shaggy.
• Cover with plastic and let sit on the counter for 16-18 hours at room temperature, about 70°F (Note: At 70-75 degrees the bread leavens well and has the distinct sourness and flavor of sourdough. At more than 75 degrees the dough becomes too acidic which inhibits the wild yeast and leavens poorly. At much less than 70 degrees the dough leavens well but has a mild flavor. ).
• With plastic scraper remove dough from bowl and gently place on floured surface.
• Gently flatten dough into rectangle and fold the ends inward (like a letter).
• Fold the sides inward and form a dough ball.
• Place dough, seam side down, on parchment paper bowl or frying pan (helps to hold shape and cover loosely with a towel and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• If using proofing basket,spray the basket with non-stick oil and dust with flour or wheat brand and place dough directly in the basket.
• Cover with towel and let rise about 1 1/2 hours.
• Dough is ready when it will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.
• Thirty minutes before baking, place cast-iron Dutch Oven or La Cloche (with lids) in oven and preheat to 500 degrees.
• With serrated knife place slits in top of loaf.
• Remove pot or La Cloche from oven and carefully lift dough with parchment from bowl and transfer to La Cloche or Dutch Oven.
• Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes.
• Replace lid and return to oven.
• Turn oven to 475 degrees and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove cover; reduce heat to 450 degrees and bake an additional 15-20 minutes or until golden brown; interior temperature should be 200 degrees and the bottom sounds hollow when thumped.
• Remove from pan and cool completely on rack before cutting.

DUONYTE'S NO-KNEAD SOURDOUGH BREAD

Steps:

• Measure the flour and salt into a bowl.
• Measure the sourdough into a cup, and add enough room temperature water to equal 1 1/2 cups. Stir the starter to dissolve it in the water.
• Pour the starter-water mixture onto the flour. Stir together until all of the flour is incorporated. (I just mix with my hands). It's important to make sure all of the flour is incorporated.
• Cover with plastic wrap and a towel, and leave overnight in a room at about 70 deg. F. for 12 to 18 hours.
• At this point, the dough should be quite puffy. Lightly oil your hands. Without removing the dough from the bowl, fold the edges of the dough into the center. Once you've gone all around, pick up the dough, pull it to a rectangular shape and roughly fold one end over the other (like folding paper for an envelope). Do it again, pulling from the opposite edge. Now plop it back down into the bowl. Cover and let rise and additional two hours.
• About 30 minutes before the two hours is up, place your pot with its lid (3 to 4 qt size) in the oven and heat your oven as hot as it can get. (Grease your pan if you feel it might stick).
• When your dough is doubled, pull the pot from the oven and very carefully remove the lid. Tip the dough right into the pot (a silicone spatula helps tremendously), cover, and return to the oven. (Also, see Katzen's review for a great suggestion on using parchment paper to simplify transfer).
• Reduce temperature to 450 deg. F. and bake for 30 minute Remove the lid and bake an additional 15-30 minutes.
• Remove loaf from pot and allow to cool before slicing.
• Note1: A plastic bowl or basin really works well. Get one that has a smallish flat area at the bottom - this will help shape your loaf.
• Note2: Thanks, Zurie, for reminding me of the mix in the bowl technique - my late aunt first taught this to me, but I'd forgotten about it. It really works and you end up with much less cleanup.
• Note3: Starters vary tremendously in how liquid they are. You may need to add a little water to get the right consistency. Remember, this dough is not going to look like a traditional dough in the first phase. It should be soft but not gloppy or liquid.
• Note4: Substitute 6 ozs. of wheat flour for 6 ozs. of white flour for a heartier loaf.
• Note5: It's sometimes difficult to visualize what a doubled loaf looks like. Remember that a 10" diameter ball has double the volume of an 8" diameter ball. Don't let your bread overrise.