By Cassie Kim
Over quarantine, I had the opportunity to try a few new recipes! Sourdough sounded daunting, but once I got started, it ended up being one of the most simple recipes I’ve made. In order to make sourdough bread, you need to make a sourdough starter. This nifty starter can be used for bread, pastries, and snacks, but the best part is that it only takes three ingredients: flour, water, and time. Sourdough starter is fermented flour and water and it is a natural leavening agent, but it does require regular feedings. Give this super simple recipe a try to make your own sourdough starter!
Mix equal parts water and flour until thoroughly combined in a glass container. Cover and set in a place where it will not be disturbed. Once a day, remove half of the starter. This will be your discarded sourdough and it can be thrown away or used to add some tang to baked goods. Add an equal mix of fresh water and flour to the sourdough starter and mix well. Continue feeding your starter for a week. To keep your starter alive, you will need to continue feeding it as long as you need it. Now the starter will be ready to use in sourdough bread!
Tips:
A sourdough starter can be stored in the fridge; this way it only needs to be fed once a week.
A sourdough starter smells a little funky, but there should never be orange or pink mold growing on the surface of the starter. If there is, discard your starter and start again.
If you have a friend who has a sourdough starter, you can ask them for some of theirs to start your own!