Naturally leavened sourdough bread

It's time to take out the starter for my once a week sourdough baking. I read somewhere that to keep the starter active (since its in the refrigerator now), we need to feed it at least once a week, otherwise it has to be kept in the freezer. So it's bread today. This recipe adapted from KAF has minimal oil and no artificial leavening agent. Except for the fact that it is "white bread", it is hundred time's more healthy than a bakery bought white bread. I would only suggest that you combine with a spread or egg if you want to offset the slight sour taste.

So the ingredients for this wonderful bread are..

Sourdough (ripe) - 220g

All-purpose flour - 301g

Wheat flour - 43g

Water (at room temperature) - 164g

Rock salt, crushed - 1 and 1/2 tsp

Olive oil - 1 Tbsp + for brushing the loaves

In a large bowl, combine starter, flours and water. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mix well, until it forms a cohesive dough (not too sticky or too dry). Cover with a kitchen towel. Let it rest for 20 minutes.

Drizzle olive oil in another glass bowl. Place dough in this bowl and add salt. Fold the dough a few times like a business letter (as is recommended for many sourdough based recipes). As you fold, it will get coated with the oil. Cover the bowl with a cloth. Let it rise for an hour. Again fold it a few times like a business letter. Cover again and allow it to rise for another hour. 

Divide the dough. Make into two round shapes. Grease a baking tray and place the round dough shapes on it. Brush oil on them. Cover lightly with a tin foil or a cloth. Let it rise for another 2 to 2 and 1/2 hours (The longer you keep, the better). Brush a bit of oil on the dough. Slash deep with a knife about three or four times.

Preheat oven to 210C. Bake for 35 minutes. When there are 15 more mins left, tent lightly with a tin foil. Remove foil for the last 5 mins. Cool on rack. Slice with a serrated knife.

Do you like thrillers? I do! Matt Brolly's story 'The Crossing' features Inspector Louise as the protagonist. She is assigned to investigate the murder of a seventy year old woman in the little town of Weston. The killer has made a hole in her left hand, a few centimeters wide. After a few days, a second corpse is found; the elderly priest of St. Michael's is found with a similar hole in his right hand. Louise finds a connection to the first murder..the lady was a devout Catholic who used to attend St. Bernadette church where the priest used to sermon long ago. Every alternate chapter is the story of the killer, Geoff. He is a devout Catholic. The rest you should read to understand the pschycology of the killer. Psst..it has to do with the five holy wounds that Christ suffered when he was crucified.