Embark on a delicious adventure with this simple sourdough starter recipe! It takes about a week to develop, but patience pays off with irresistibly fresh, homemade bread. Plus, you get to be the boss of your ingredients, making every loaf healthier and tastier. Baking fun starts now!

Ingredients

• 1 package of active dry yeast
• 2 ½ cups of warm water (105°F. to 115°F)
• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey

Process

1. Dissolve the yeast in ½ cup of the warm water.
2. Stir in the remaining warm water, flour, and sugar or honey.
3. Using a wooden spoon, beat until smooth.
4. Pour mixture into a 5-cup jar and cover with 100% cotton cheesecloth.
5. Let stand at room temperature (75°F – 85°F) for 5 to 10 days or until the mixture has a fermented aroma and the active bubbling stops.  Your starter is ready to use for baking. 
6. Be sure to stir your starter 3 times a day.
7. If you’re not baking bread right after the 10-day fermenting process, store your starter in a 1-quart container after it finishes bubbling. Cover it with a lid and put it in the fridge.
8. If you don’t use your starter within 10 days of putting it in the refrigerator, add 1 teaspoon of sugar or honey. Keep adding 1 teaspoon of sugar or honey every 10 days while it’s stored in the fridge, unless you replenish the starter after using it in a recipe.

Replenish starter after each use by stirring in:

• ¾ cup of all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon of sugar or honey
• Add into the remaining starter for each 1 cup removed for the recipe.
• Cover replenished starter with cheesecloth and let stand at room temperature for 1 day or until bubbly.
• Cover with a lid; chill for later use following instructions in step 8 above to keep it active.

Recipe for easy, delicious soft Sourdough Bread to follow in the next post.

Tagged: Food, dinner, recipes, recipe, baking, Bread, sourdough starter, sourdough