Italian Sourdough Bread Recipe | How To Make a Sourdough Italian Bread at Home - Cultures For Health (2024)

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  • by CFH Admin
  • June 23, 2022
  • 2 min read

Italian Sourdough Bread Recipe | How To Make a Sourdough Italian Bread at Home - Cultures For Health (1)


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Working with sourdough makes many things possible as a home baker. For one, you get that delicious depth of flavor provided by sourdough that simply cannot be mimicked with commercial yeast. This stems from a longer fermentation and the complex nature of a sourdough starter in a sourdough bread starter kit which holds not only yeast but bacteria and acids as well. The other perk of sourdough is that it is not as volatile as commercial yeast. This buys me time in the kitchen. With a commercial yeast bread I might only have a couple of hours between mixing the bread and baking. This can create a high-pressure situation in which I must be very attentive and available during this small window of time for punching down and shaping and baking. Sourdough, on the other hand, gives me a larger window of time between the mixing and shaping stages and the final proof and baking. This is a real blessing to the busy home baker. You can plan these 4-12 hour stretches around other meals, time away from home, and sleeping patterns. And if that isn’t handy enough, use Erin’s tip for delayed fermentation in the refrigerator to buy sourdough starter you even more time. If that isn’t reason enough to work with sourdough, maybe this chewy, crusty-bottomed Italian bread will help. Make this loaf as-is or stir in chopped garlic and herbs for a delicious addition to any meal.


Italian Sourdough Bread Recipe | How To Make a Sourdough Italian Bread at Home - Cultures For Health (2)

60 minutes

Italian Sourdough Bread Recipe | How To Make a Sourdough Italian Bread at Home - Cultures For Health (3)

840 minutes

Italian Sourdough Bread Recipe | How To Make a Sourdough Italian Bread at Home - Cultures For Health (4)

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INGREDIENTS AND EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE AT CULTURES FOR HEALTH

Artisan Sourdough Bread Kit

Italian Sourdough Bread Recipe | How To Make a Sourdough Italian Bread at Home - Cultures For Health (5)

Artisan Sourdough Bread Kit

$50.99

This sourdough bread kit contains everything you need to get started making beautiful, tasty, artisan-style sourdough bread at home!

    Equipment in the sourdough bread starter kit may appear different than pictured.

    Sourdough Starter: San Francisco Style

    Italian Sourdough Bread Recipe | How To Make a Sourdough Italian Bread at Home - Cultures For Health (6)

    Sourdough Starter: San Francisco Style

    $13.99

    Our Sourdough Starter Culture sets you up for bread-making success!

    The Sourdough Starter is an heirloom culture in a San Francisco style, meaning you'll make endless bread dough all from one starter! Just add water andwhite flour.

    One of the premier sourdough starters for sale online, Cultures for Health's San Francisco style starter has proven itself very versatile and hardy, happily thriving in a variety of environments to continually produce chewy, crusty, tangy sourdough loaves.

    Sourdough is perfect for beginners. It is a very forgiving culture and one of the easiest to work with!

    Click to download our Sourdough Recipe book, which has easy-to-follow tips and tricks and will help you create a perfect loaf of bread every time.

    INGREDIENTS IN MAKING ITALIAN SOURDOUGH BREAD:

    • 1 cup activesourdough starter, at its peak
    • 4 1/2 cup bread flour, plus more for kneading
    • 1 1/2 cup water
    • 1 Tbsp. honey
    • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
    • 2 1/2 tsp. salt

    INSTRUCTIONS FOR SOURDOUGH ITALIAN BREAD RECIPE:

    1. Mix all ingredients except salt in a large bowl, being sure that all of the ingredients are hydrated. The dough should be shaggy and wet. Cover and allow to sit, or autolyse, for 30 minutes.
    2. Sprinkle the salt over the dough and mix it in, stretching and folding the dough over itself as you go. The dough will be sticky but less so as the salt mixes in. Flour a clean work surface and turn the dough out onto it. Sprinkle the dough lightly with flour and knead gently for 5-8 minutes, adding more flour as needed. The dough should be tacky but not so sticky that it isn’t workable.
    3. Once the dough is soft and pliable, form it into a ball. Oil the mixing bowl you started with and place dough in, rough side up. Move the ball of dough around in the bowl so that the smooth portion is coated in oil. Flip it over and cover tightly with a lid or plastic wrap. Set aside to ferment for 8-12 hours, or overnight.
    4. In the morning, slice the dough in half while still in the bowl, being careful not to deflate it too much. Oil a baking sheet generously or line it with parchment paper. Sprinkle the oiled pan or parchment paper generously with flour or a coarse semolina or cornmeal. Flour your hands and scoop out one of the portions of dough. It will be fairly wet and sticky. Shape it roughly into a torpedo loaf, approximately 12″ long, pushing the dough together to make it as high and thin as you can. Place it on one side of the sheet pan. Repeat with the other dough.
    5. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and allow to proof for 1.5 – 2 hours or until it is puffy. It won’t double in size but should spring up nicely in the oven.
    6. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove the plastic wrap from the loaves, slash as desired with a very sharp knife, and place in hot oven. Bake for 15 minutes, rotate sheet pan, and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until it makes a hollow sound when the bottom is thumped or it reaches an internal temperature of 190 degrees.
    7. Move to a cooling rack. Serve warm, torn and dipped in olive oil or spread with butter. Or, cool completely and use for garlic bread or sub sandwiches.


    Do you love the taste of sourdough bread? Download our Sourdough Guide and Recipe today!

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      Italian Sourdough Bread Recipe | How To Make a Sourdough Italian Bread at Home - Cultures For Health (2024)

      FAQs

      How do you make sourdough starter cultures for health? ›

      New Sourdough Starter Methodology

      Add a packet of starter to 1 tablespoon flour and 1 tablespoon water in a quart-size glass jar and stir thoroughly. Cover the jar with a coffee filter or breathable material secured with a rubber band and culture in a warm place for 12-24 hours.

      Is Italian sourdough bread healthy? ›

      Sourdough bread may have health benefits. Beneficial bacteria and low phytates make sourdough bread easy to digest, and they may also help with weight loss, this may be due to its glycemic index and glycemic load.

      Does homemade sourdough bread have probiotics? ›

      Yes, sourdough contains the gut-friendly lactobacillus bacteria, but the high heat of baking destroys these probiotics. So, unless you'd like to eat the raw dough, sourdough is not a probiotic food. However, it does have some digestive benefits.

      Is eating homemade sourdough bread healthy? ›

      According to some studies, sourdough bread acts as a prebiotic, which means that the fiber in the bread helps feed the “good” bacteria in your intestines. These bacteria are important for maintaining a stable, healthy digestive system. Sourdough is also lower in gluten than other forms of bread.

      What is the healthiest sourdough starter? ›

      Compared to whole wheat flour, rye flour is said to be the most nutrient- and amylase-dense option for a sourdough starter.

      How does sourdough bread affect gut health? ›

      The fermentation process alters the enzymes in the wheat and pre-digests the flour by consuming its sugar. This means that the food is partially digested before it arrives. Ultimately improving the digestion time and effectiveness. Also, even though sourdough isn't gluten-free, it is lower in gluten.

      What flour do Italians use for sourdough? ›

      Grano tenero flours are generally used in Italy to make both bread and pastries.

      What is the most nutritious sourdough bread? ›

      When choosing a sourdough loaf, look for ones that have whole wheat, spelt or rye, Rizzo adds. Some studies suggest that Einkhorn wheat, a type of "ancient grain," may offer more nutritional benefits. When comparing nutrition labels, try to opt for the one with fewer ingredients and less sodium and sugar.

      What is the difference between sourdough and Italian bread? ›

      Sourdough bread is healthier than Italian bread. Like the other bread types touched on thus far, Italian bread is made using commercial yeast. Since Italian bread does not traditionally use wild yeast that ferments slowly, Italian bread does not have the enhanced nutritional content that sourdough bread has.

      Is homemade sourdough bread considered processed food? ›

      A loaf of homemade sourdough bread, for example, is more processed than a bag of pre-cut green beans.

      What is the best bread for gut health? ›

      The best bread to reduce gut inflammation is bread made from whole grains. Refined grains, such as the grains found in white bread and white pasta, are known to increase inflammation across the whole body. Sourdough bread and rye bread are both good options for an anti-inflammatory diet.

      Is store bought sourdough bread as healthy as homemade? ›

      Whether you buy sourdough from the store or make your own, it has a pretty impressive nutrition profile. Most sourdough isn't made with whole-grain flour, but if you make it at home you can use whole-wheat flour for your bread.

      How often should you eat sourdough bread? ›

      Can you eat sourdough bread every day? It's good news for sourdough super-fans. 'Sourdough is rich in carbohydrates which should make up around 50% of our energy intake every day, so there's no problem with eating sourdough daily,' says Tilt, who adds; 'it's delicious and I often do!

      Does sourdough bread spike blood sugar? ›

      Sourdough bread is made through a slow fermentation process, which may cause this type of bread to raise blood sugar more slowly than other breads. As a result, sourdough bread could be a great choice for those with diabetes. Whole grain sourdough bread is the best sourdough bread for diabetics.

      Is it worth it to make your own sourdough bread? ›

      Yes it's cheaper to make your own sourdough at home, as oppose to buying it from a bakery. What is this? When you consider that sourdough is literally just flour, water and salt (including the sourdough culture), then depending on the type of flour you use, you could bake a loaf for as little as $1.

      Is sourdough culture healthy? ›

      Naturally-Leavened Sourdough:

      In addition to potential health benefits, lactic acid bacteria in sourdough help limit the growth of harmful microorganisms—including mold—to naturally delay staleness and extend shelf life.

      How do I make my sourdough starter healthy again? ›

      Reviving Your LIVE Sourdough Starter
      1. Spoon out the contents of the zip lock bag into a small bowl or container.
      2. Add 2 tablespoons of room temperature purified or spring water and 3 tablespoons of unbleached white flour (bread or AP). ...
      3. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for about 8 – 12 hours.

      How do you make sourdough bacteria? ›

      Despite all the mysticism and lore about creating the concoction, a sourdough starter is merely a naturally fermenting mixture of flour and water. Add water to dry flour, let it sit on the counter for a few days, and you'll see nature weave life into a once lifeless lump: bubbles will appear and the mixture will rise.

      Can you purchase sourdough starter culture to make sourdough? ›

      If you're anti-social, you can also buy sourdough starter from King Arthur Flour and have it shipped to your door. A one-ounce jar of starter will set you back about $9.

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