Prep Time: 20 minutes
Rest Time: 10–12 hours (overnight)
Bake Time: 35–40 minutes
Total Time: ~12 hours
Yield: 2 Loaves
Difficulty: Easy–Intermediate
🧂 Ingredients
- 500g (4 cups) bread flour
- 100g (¾ cup) whole wheat flour (optional)
- 100g active sourdough starter
- 375g (1½ cups + 1 tbsp) water (room temp)
- 10g (2 tsp) salt
🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Feed Your Starter
- Starter ko 4–6 hours pehle feed karo
- Yeh double ho jaye, bubbly ho aur halka tangy smell aaye
2. Mix the Dough
- Bowl me starter + water mix karo
- Flour add karo
- Mix karo jab tak dry spots na rahein
- Cover karke 1 hour rest (autolyse)
3. Add Salt
- Dough ke upar salt daalo
- Pinch aur fold karke mix karo
4. Bulk Fermentation (Stretch & Fold)
Next 3–4 hours:
- Har 30 min baad stretch & fold karo
- Edge pakro → upar stretch → fold karo
- Bowl rotate karke repeat
Last me:
- Dough ko cover karo
- 50–75% rise hone do
5. Pre-shape & Rest
- Surface ko halka flour karo
- Dough ko 2 parts me divide karo
- Rough ball shape banao
- 20 min rest
6. Final Shaping
- Dough ko tight log shape do
- Loaf pans me seam-side down rakho
7. Cold Proof (Overnight)
- Cover karo
- Fridge me 8–12 hours rakh do
8. Scoring
Next day:
- Oven preheat karo 230°C (450°F)
- Dough ke upar cut (score) lagao
9. Bake
- 35–40 min bake karo
- Extra crispy crust ke liye last 10 min pan se nikaal kar bake karo
10. Cool
- Wire rack par kam se kam 1 hour thanda hone do
- Jaldi cut karoge to bread gummy ho jayegi
💡 Pro Tips
- Starter fresh aur active ho
- Oven me steam ke liye paani ka tray rakh sakte ho
- Butter brush karne se crust soft ho jata hai
- Whole wheat se flavor strong hota hai
🍽️ Serving Ideas
- Toast
- Sandwich
- Garlic bread
- Freeze bhi kar sakte ho (3 months tak)
❓ FAQs
Q1: Loaf pan ke baghair bana sakta hun?
Haan, round shape bana ke bake kar lo
Q2: Bread rise kyu nahi hua?
Starter weak tha — properly active hona chahiye
Q3: Overnight skip kar sakta hun?
Haan, room temp pe 3–4 hours proof kar lo (flavor halka hoga)
Q4: Soft crust kaise banaye?
Bake ke baad butter lagao aur cover kar do
