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

      Is Italian sourdough bread healthy? ›

      The fermentation process of sourdough bread reduces anti-nutrients such as phytates in humans and monogastric animals, and it increases beneficial phytochemicals. Some research has indicated that sourdough bread has more phenols, carotenoids, folates, and other beneficial compounds than unfermented bread.

      Does homemade sourdough bread have probiotics? ›

      Although baked sourdough bread may not contain probiotics since they are likely not able to survive the high heat of the baking process, it does still contain prebiotics, which are also vital for proper digestion and gut health.

      Is homemade sourdough bread healthy for you? ›

      The Bottom Line. Sourdough has made a comeback—and for good reason. It provides nutrients, including healthy carbs, protein, fiber, iron and vitamins like folic acid. It may help improve digestion, lower chronic disease risk and even promote healthy aging.

      What is the healthiest 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 bread 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.

      What flour do Italians use for sourdough? ›

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

      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.

      Does sourdough 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 homemade sourdough bread anti inflammatory? ›

      Sourdough bread contains lactic acid, which can help reduce inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation can lead to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Adding sourdough bread to your diet can help reduce inflammation and promote overall health.

      Is it okay to eat sourdough bread every day? ›

      Is it healthy to eat sourdough everyday? You could eat sourdough every day, but it isn't necessarily healthy to do so. A healthy diet is characterized by balance and moderation. Whether or not it is healthy for you to consume sourdough every day depends on the rest of your diet.

      What is the healthiest bread to eat? ›

      Look for “whole grain,” “whole wheat,” or “whole meal” on the label. If a loaf contains 6 grams of fiber per 100 g, it's rich in fiber. Choose breads with plenty of intact grains, like oats, barley, and quinoa, as well as seeds, if you can eat these. Watch out for mass-produced sourdough breads.

      What is the healthiest flour for sourdough bread? ›

      Whole Wheat Flour: Some bakers swear by using whole wheat flour in their starters. This flour includes the whole grain of wheat, including the bran, endosperm, and germ.

      Is Aldi's sourdough bread real sourdough? ›

      ALDI has “real” sourdough bread (no yeast). Being somewhat gluten intolerant, I have found “real” sourdough works for me, no bloating etc. The loaves...

      Is grocery store sourdough real sourdough? ›

      Despite the fact that traditional sourdough ingredients are flour, water, and salt, many store-bought versions include added yeast, ascorbic acid, vinegar, and oil. So, although many grocery stores may carry bread labeled “sourdough”, more often than not they are in fact fake sourdough.

      Is Panera sourdough bread real sourdough? ›

      Much like Panera's lackluster rewards program, Panera's sourdough is similarly disappointing -- it isn't real sourdough. Sourdough is the oldest enduring type of bread.

      Is sourdough bread okay for weight loss? ›

      But flour type and personal diet need to play a big role. Is sourdough bread good for weight loss? Yes, it may help in your weight management journey. It's complex carbs and high fibre content can leave you feeling full and limit snacking.

      What is the difference between artisan bread and sourdough bread? ›

      Flour, water, salt and yeast are the key ingredients of most artisan breads - and a lack of chemical additives in its ingredients list is a sign that it is truly artisan. Sourdough breads may not even include yeast, as they rely on a culture for leavening instead.

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