Description
This sourdough bread recipe for beginners walks you step-by-step through mixing, folding, proofing, and baking a crusty artisan loaf at home. With just four ingredients, flour, water, salt, and starter, you’ll master the fundamentals of wild fermentation and create a golden, chewy loaf every time. No fancy tools required.
Ingredients
475 grams all-purpose flour (3½ cups)
100 grams active sourdough starter (½ cup)
325 grams water (1⅓ cups)
10 grams salt (2 tsp)
Instructions
Mix flour, water, and starter in a large bowl until no dry bits remain. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes (autolyse).
Add salt and mix by pinching and folding the dough until well incorporated.
Over the next 3 hours, perform a stretch-and-fold every 30–45 minutes (4–5 total rounds).
Let the dough ferment at room temperature until it has risen about 50% in volume (4–6 hours).
Turn the dough out, gently shape into a round, and bench rest for 30 minutes uncovered.
Final shape the dough, place seam-side up in a floured banneton or bowl, cover, and refrigerate 12–18 hours.
Preheat oven to 475°F with Dutch oven inside. Flip dough onto parchment, score the top.
Bake covered for 20 minutes, then uncovered for 25–30 minutes until deep golden brown.
Let cool completely before slicing.
Notes
For best results, use filtered water and unbleached all-purpose flour.
Dough is sticky—avoid adding flour. Wet your hands instead.
Cold proofing improves flavor and makes dough easier to score.
If your starter isn’t active, feed it and wait until bubbly before using.
For troubleshooting starter issues, check out our discard and mold guides.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: sourdough bread recipe for beginners, how to make sourdough bread, sourdough starter recipe, easy artisan bread, beginner sourdough