Simple no-knead sourdough bread

Preparation:7.5 hours
Baking:25 minutes

This is a very simple, no-knead sourdough recipe, without needing anything fancy like banneton or Dutch oven. What you do need is time and patience, as it takes an entire day to prepare the sourdough, though.

Ingredients

  • 300g water
  • 100g sourdough starter
  • 450g all-purpose flour (see notes on variations below)
  • 10g salt

Variations

I tend to use 50% all-purpose flour and 50% whole wheat flour, sometimes also add ground flax seeds and chia seeds as well. I encourage you to try different combinations to see what you like most! I'm recently trying a different hydration level (the amount of water-to-flour ratio), and noticed that it's less dense when I have overall more water than flour, I like it!

Steps (Preparing, Day Before)

  1. mix water, starter, flour & salt
  2. let the sourdough mixture rest, covered with towel for 30 minutes
  3. gently pull & fold the sourdough from side to side about 3 times, let it rest for another 30 minutes, covered
  4. repeat the above for 3 times, then let it rest for 5 hours covered
  5. give it one gentle fold and let it rest on a flat surface (to work with) for 30 minutes
  6. shape the sourdough in a tucking motion, until the sourdough forms a ball
  7. put the sourdough in a round container (or a banneton if you have one) to shape, put in the fridge covered and let it proof overnight for at least 12 hours

Steps (Baking)

  1. pre-heat the oven to 260C/500F
  2. take the sourdough out from the fridge, and place it on a baking tray (or Dutch oven if you have one)
    note: if you don't have a Dutch oven, you can also prepare a small tray of hot water to put into the oven as well, to generate a bit of steam (optional)
  3. bake for 25 minutes for 260C/500F