Sourdough Country Bread

When I first read Martha Rose Shulman’s book Supper Club chez Martha Rose, published in 1988, my life changed. Why? Because of what she did with bread. I’m not referring to the crazily intense scientific approach to bread baking, I’m talking about her creativity. She added stuff to bread doughs. And I mean just about everything.

On this blog I’ve shared an olive bread, above, that was inspired by a recipe in her cookbook, but the book taught me to add just about anything to bread. This kind of creativity came in handy during my years as a private cook and caterer. Olive bread isn’t that unique these days, but it was in 1988.

Because of Ms. Schulman, I’ve made breads with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, chili powder, nuts, seeds, grated zucchini, nuts and dried fruits, cooked or raw grains, paprika creme, onions, and cheese… you name it.

But the recipe I want to share from this cookbook today is a rustic sourdough country bread. It’s crusty, chewy, and has the flavor that’s undeniably sourdough.

If you want to get on the scientific sourdough bandwagon with an expert, hop over to Elaine’s blog, called Foodbod Sourdough. I love Elaine because she began innocently enough, with a starter and curiosity and passion, but quickly evolved. Her recipes and techniques are specific, and she now has a book!

But this Martha Schulman recipe shows how sourdough can be created in a matter of days, without a starter. And it’s magnificent! (And no feeding.)

Sourdough Country Bread

for the starter

The First Day
1/3 cup water
1 cup flour, whole-wheat or unbleached white

Mix together the water and flour and knead into a smooth ball on a floured work surface. The dough should be soft and sticky. Flour your hands so you can work with it. Return it to the bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let sit at room temperature for 72 hours. The dough will form a crust on the top and turn a grayish color, which is normal. If you keep wetting the towel it will reduce the drying. The dough will rise slightly and take on an acidic aroma.

After 72 hours
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 1/2 cups flour, whole-wheat or unbleached white

Add the water to the starter and blend together. If the crust on the top is like cardboard, you will have to peel it off and discard it. Try blending it before you resort to this. Add the flour and stir to blend. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and knead into a smooth ball.

Return it to the bowl, cover with a damp towel, and let sit in a warm place for 24 to 48 hours. Again, a crust may form on the top. If it is like cardboard, peel it off and discard before proceeding with the recipe.

for the bread

All of the sourdough starter
2 cups lukewarm water plus 1 cup coffee
Scant tablespoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses
1 scant tablespoon salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups whole-wheat flour
Cornmeal for the baking sheet

Combine the sourdough starter, the water and coffee, and the yeast. Whisk together until the starter and yeast are thoroughly dissolved. Whisk in the molasses and the salt.

Fold in the flour, 1 cup at a time. By the time you have added 4 cups, you should be able to knead. I usually do this right in the bowl, as the dough is sticky and unwieldy. Using a pastry scraper instead of your hands to fold the dough for kneading will help. Knead for 10 minutes, adding flour as necessary.

Cover the dough and let rise in a warm spot for 1 1/2 hours. Flour your hands and wrists and punch down the dough. Knead for 2 or 3 minutes on a lightly floured surface, using a pastry scraper to make it easier. Remove a cup of the dough and place in a bowl, to use as a started for your next loaf of bread. Cover the starter and refrigerate after a few hours if not using again in a day’s time.

Dust a clean, dry towel with flour and line a bowl or basket. Form the dough into a ball, dust the surface with flour, and place, rounded side down, in the towel-lined bowl or basket (banneton). Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm spot for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until almost doubled in bulk. You can also let the dough rise in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. (I made two smaller breads.)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place an empty pan on the bottom shelf of the oven. When the oven is heated, pour 2 cups of water into the pan; the steam will help give the bread a thick, hard crust. Turn the dough out onto an un-oiled baking sheet or baking stone dusted with cornmeal, peel off the towel, and slash the dough with a sharp knife or razor. Place it in the oven and bake 45 minutes, until brown and it responds to tapping with a hollow thumping sound. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.

I don’t do the slashing cause I’m not good at it. But the first thing I do is slather butter on the hot bread. I’m good at that.

And then, you have the starter in your kitchen or fridge, depending how often you bake bread. A bonus!

The lesson here, is that you can make a slurry/dough with just water and flour, let it sit for a few days, then use it to create a bread. Then you magically have a sour dough!

I usually make the first bread, then use all of the starter for a second bread. I just don’t want that much bread around! But the “souring” process of starting with just flour and water still excites me.

By Published On: March 29th, 202164 Comments on Sourdough Country Bread

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

64 Comments

  1. chef mimi March 29, 2021 at 8:18 AM - Reply

    It’s so nice. Especially with butter!

  2. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen March 29, 2021 at 8:31 AM - Reply

    What a beautiful vision –– butter melting on freshly baked bread!

    • chef mimi March 29, 2021 at 9:30 AM - Reply

      Ahhh, you know it!

  3. Jovina Coughlin March 29, 2021 at 9:16 AM - Reply

    Love sourdcough and your recipe looks fantastic.

    • chef mimi March 29, 2021 at 9:30 AM - Reply

      Thanks! It takes time, but that’s all!

  4. Eva March 29, 2021 at 11:42 AM - Reply

    What a great looking bread. I have some starter in the fridge that I’ve had for a few months. Sadly it doesn’t have a strong sour flavour even though it smells pretty good. I’ll give your recipe a go in the summer when we’ve got a lot of humidity in the air.
    Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com/

    • chef mimi March 29, 2021 at 1:34 PM - Reply

      Leave it out for a couple of days and it will get sour!

    • Gloria March 30, 2021 at 12:49 AM - Reply

      Aww love country bread and this looks amazing !!
      Happy Easter Mimi!

  5. chef mimi March 29, 2021 at 1:34 PM - Reply

    It takes many days, but not much work!

  6. Katherine | Love In My Oven March 29, 2021 at 3:00 PM - Reply

    Your sourdough is beautiful Mimi!!! Very well done. The shape, the holes, everything. It’s wonderful! I wish I could grab a warm piece of bread and slather it with butter!

    • chef mimi March 29, 2021 at 4:23 PM - Reply

      I only care if it tastes good! I love the sour flavor, but it’s not my favorite bread, like it is for a lot of people. And those gorgeous crusts are so pretty but they cut my mouthy! Even some real baguettes.

  7. Laura March 29, 2021 at 4:29 PM - Reply

    I’m with you! I love baking bread, but don’t do it all that often, because we don’t use that much, and I’ve so little freezer space, to boot. But, this recipe is so inviting, as I love sourdough! It looks so lovely, chewy, with a nice crust! Thanks for the recipe!

    • chef mimi March 29, 2021 at 4:30 PM - Reply

      Thanks! It’s not like the expert looking beautiful sourdoughs, but that’s not my thing anyway. Too tedious for me given my nature and skills. But it’s good!

  8. chef mimi March 29, 2021 at 5:05 PM - Reply

    It’s truly not patience. You do basically nothing for five days!!!!

    • chef mimi March 29, 2021 at 5:12 PM - Reply

      Ha! I understand. That’s why you don’t start this one with a starter. You can choose to keep some of the dough at the end for a starter, but I usually don’t even do that. I just don’t want that much bread around!!!

  9. chef mimi March 29, 2021 at 7:12 PM - Reply

    Ah, thanks! I’m not a perfectionist, and I don’t do fiddle things like cakes, but to me bread is a different story. It might take hours or days, but you’re not really actively doing anything during that time. I know some people don’t want to sous vide because for some meats 48 hours are required. But that would be, to me, like giving up on marinating or brining… I just love this recipe cause it doesn’t start with a starter. Yet you get that great flavor. But any freshly baked bread is a delicious bread, with butter and/or brie!

    • chef mimi April 8, 2021 at 7:59 AM - Reply

      Aw, thanks! Well, unless you’re in San Francisco, or at a really good bakery, I’m positive whatever you make at home will be better than what you can get at the store. The other day my husband made burgers and I found sourdough buns at the store. Couldn’t even tell they were sourdough.

  10. sherry March 29, 2021 at 8:13 PM - Reply

    i don’t eat much bread so i didn’t get into the whole covid baking/sourdough thing. but i do love a stuffed bread especially with olives. but mostly i love butter so bread is just the necessary vehicle for me:-) Your bread looks so tasty, and i love a sourdough tang.

    • chef mimi March 29, 2021 at 8:14 PM - Reply

      Thank you, Sherry. The only bread baking I did during 2020 was to make pretzel bites. I will never get on the real science-based sourdough trend, just cause that’s not me.

  11. Tandy | Lavender and Lime March 30, 2021 at 2:06 AM - Reply

    This is a lovely way to create a sourdough starter without having to keep it. I hibernate mine a lot but will take it out over the weekend as I have time to be creative. Your sourdough country bread looks brilliant and I will check out the blog / book you recommended as I am always looking for new recipes to try.

    • chef mimi March 30, 2021 at 7:36 AM - Reply

      It’s a fun book. I wish I could have been one of her friends in Paris for her dinners! Nothing sophisticated, but she’s definitely creative. And certainly was back in ‘88.

  12. Mary March 30, 2021 at 3:29 AM - Reply

    What an interesting way to make Sourdough. I make Sourdough the ‘normal’ way which of course is no trouble. Only a short time ‘hands on’ then into the fridge to be baked when I have time or one evening when I am relaxing.
    I will try your way which you have explained so well. It will be fun to produce Sourdough with such an unusual recipe.
    Thanks Mimi :))

    • chef mimi March 30, 2021 at 7:34 AM - Reply

      I wish I had more information on how this bread came about, but I imagine it’s a peasant way to create a sour dough. No refrigeration, just keep your dough out to sour!

  13. Kiki March 30, 2021 at 5:40 AM - Reply

    Slathering butter on the still hot bread is more important to me too than the slashing :-D

    • chef mimi March 30, 2021 at 7:33 AM - Reply

      Thanks, Kiki!

  14. David @ Spiced March 30, 2021 at 6:20 AM - Reply

    Interesting! I want to try my hand at this recipe. I love baking bread, and I do keep a starter in the back of the fridge – but this version is just so different. I love the taste of a good sourdough, and I know this bread wouldn’t last long here!

    • chef mimi March 30, 2021 at 7:33 AM - Reply

      When I baked a lot of bread for people, it was fun to the make the dough and let it sit and get that sour flavor. I’m not one for feeding starters. No idea why, except that maybe it’s too ritualistic for me!

  15. Jeff the Chef March 30, 2021 at 9:14 AM - Reply

    Wow, coffee! I don’t know Martha Rose Shulman, but I already love her. Thanks for sharing this recipe!

    • chef mimi March 30, 2021 at 4:18 PM - Reply

      Ha! I wonder if she’s around any more. I would have loved to have been part of her paris dinner parties!

  16. Conor Bofin March 30, 2021 at 4:00 PM - Reply

    Great method Mimi.

    • chef mimi March 30, 2021 at 4:17 PM - Reply

      Thanks, Conor. I copied!

  17. Raymund March 30, 2021 at 5:27 PM - Reply

    I always love a sourdough, before I only buy them in Bakeries or try them on the bread baskets in a restaurant entree but thanks COVID, I learned how to make one which is nearly similar to your great recipe

    • chef mimi March 31, 2021 at 9:37 AM - Reply

      I just love how this teaches you that you don’t need a starter. Just let your dough sit around for a few days!

  18. chef mimi March 31, 2021 at 6:59 AM - Reply

    Oh no, I’m so sorry about the stampeded. Darn it.

  19. Jean March 31, 2021 at 10:28 AM - Reply

    You listed a bread add-in that’s still on my to-make list: sun dried tomatoes. Can’t wait to see how it turns out. I’m with you that it’s so nice to be able to dress up bread in so many ways, the possibilities are endless!

    • chef mimi March 31, 2021 at 10:30 AM - Reply

      They really are. I spent years convincing people that you can pretty much do what you want when you’re a home cook. It’s not rocket science!

  20. kitchenriffs March 31, 2021 at 11:01 AM - Reply

    Martha Rose Shulman is such a superb cook and recipe writer. I found it amusing that for years her recipes appeared in the Health section of the NY Times, not the Food section — when her recipes were consistently better than any published in the Food section! In later years the Food section wised up and she appeared there, too (at least in the electronic version). Anyway, this looks so good — thanks.

    • chef mimi March 31, 2021 at 5:41 PM - Reply

      Oh really. Very interesting. I didn’t even know she was a food columnist. Maybe they just didn’t know how to put her in a food genre, since she was a mix of cuisines.

  21. chef mimi March 31, 2021 at 5:40 PM - Reply

    I think I only have one other one. She’s fun and creative.

  22. Holly March 31, 2021 at 5:45 PM - Reply

    I love sourdough but always hesitant to try making it from starter. I want to try this recipe someday, It sounds simple enough for me. I like it even better with whole wheat.

    • chef mimi March 31, 2021 at 6:15 PM - Reply

      Seriously simple. That’s why I don’t make the complicated sourdoughs.

  23. Ronit Penso Tasty Eats March 31, 2021 at 10:41 PM - Reply

    The bread looks amazing. I’ve never had the patience to go with the whole sourdough process, so it’s great to find a quicker method! :)

    • chef mimi April 1, 2021 at 7:53 AM - Reply

      I’m not sure it’s quicker, really, cause it takes days to get the sour flavor, but you don’t have to start with a starter. That doesn’t appeal to me, plus I don’t want that much bread around!!!

      • Ronit Penso Tasty Eats April 1, 2021 at 1:20 PM

        I meant the fact that you don’t need to keep the starter “alive”, which I have no patience for…
        Too much bread around is indeed a problem! :)

  24. Healthy World Cuisine April 1, 2021 at 7:31 AM - Reply

    I bet your house smells amazing! This bread looks very hearty and chewy and delicious. Wishing you a super weekend ahead.

    • chef mimi April 1, 2021 at 7:52 AM - Reply

      Thank you! I like the idea of making a sourdough bread without a starter!

  25. Shannon April 1, 2021 at 1:22 PM - Reply

    Well I need to get both of these books! There is nothing better than homemade bread. And getting that sourdough taste and texture without needing to feed a starter is a dream!!! This bread looks absolutely delicious, and I am so with you Mimi! Putting delicious things in the bread dough is basically the best thing ever. I’ll need to make your olive bread as well!

    • chef mimi April 1, 2021 at 3:40 PM - Reply

      The thing is, it works. My mother used to not less us in the kitchen when bread was rising. I learned early on that you can do pretty much anything with bread. It’s forgiving! And, it all works. Just add a mix of chopped olives in the last knead, do the last rise, and bake!

  26. Simon April 2, 2021 at 2:05 AM - Reply

    this is a great tip, thanks for sharing this and curious about it’s taste.

    • chef mimi April 2, 2021 at 7:24 AM - Reply

      You are so welcome! It was really an eye opening recipe for me!

  27. Molly Pisula April 2, 2021 at 9:43 AM - Reply

    Great idea, Mimi! I didn’t know you could build a sourdough bread without a starter. Also, I’m good at slathering butter on bread too. 😂

    • chef mimi April 2, 2021 at 7:16 PM - Reply

      Ha! During the years I baked a ton of yeasted bread I’d just sometimes leave the slurry our for a few days, lid on, to get that flavor, even if I wasn’t making an actual sourdough. Soured a bit, but not sourdough. It works wonders!

  28. chef mimi April 2, 2021 at 7:11 PM - Reply

    You’ll love the process, i think!

  29. David Scott Allen April 3, 2021 at 10:56 AM - Reply

    Maybe it’s time to put on my big boy pants and give sourdough a try. I know for sure I don’t like sourdough bread from the grocery store, but a fresh loaf like yours has such great appeal! And I don’t think there’s anything better and toasted real sourdough bread with creamy unsalted butter. Naturally, I sprinkle it with salt… thanks for the step-by-step instructions; we’ve been looking for a recipe that starts with making the starter. Most recipe say “just add a cup of starter“.

    • David Scott Allen April 3, 2021 at 11:00 AM - Reply

      Me, again… how necessary is the coffee? We never have it in the house — any possible substitute?

    • chef mimi April 3, 2021 at 12:02 PM - Reply

      No starter necessary with this recipe, you just sour the dough. I’ve only followed this specific recipe twice – the first time, and then for the blog. But in between, if I wanted a country sourdough flavor, I just let my dough, more like a slurry, then you don’t have to deal with the “cap,” sit for a few days to sour. And, hello again, no the coffee isn’t necessary for the flavor or texture or anything. Not even color.

  30. Hannah Kaminsky April 4, 2021 at 6:35 PM - Reply

    What a lovely loaf! Sourdough really is having a moment. I wish I could get on board, but I keep killing my starters, no matter how hard I try. Happy to just watch and enjoy vicariously!

    • chef mimi April 4, 2021 at 6:55 PM - Reply

      Well, that’s the thing. You don’t have to start with a starter. You can make a sourdough once a year if you want! Try this recipe when you have about 5 days. It’s interesting!

  31. Elaine @ foodbod April 8, 2021 at 9:37 AM - Reply

    Thank you SO much!! So kind of you to include me x x x thank you 🥰🥰🥰

    • chef mimi April 8, 2021 at 10:37 AM - Reply

      Of course! Your expertise is so impressive.

      • Elaine @ foodbod April 8, 2021 at 11:55 AM

        Thank you, that means so much coming from you xx

  32. cynthia | what a girl eats April 15, 2021 at 5:31 PM - Reply

    I love sourdough and this recipe looks delicious!

    • chef mimi April 15, 2021 at 7:04 PM - Reply

      Thank you! I’ve loved it for a long time.

  33. chef mimi May 22, 2021 at 12:35 PM - Reply

    This one is very old – not sure it’s in print, but I really loved her approach to bread and cooking!

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