This is our go-to recipe, feel free to adjust as you need!
Basic ingredients
Water - 75%
Use lukewarm water (76-80°F). If working on a hot day, use cooler water (72-76°F) to prevent overproofing. If you are new to baking, start at 70% and add the remaining water gradually to help you get familiar with the dough.
Bread Flour - 80%
If you can, use organic bread flour. We recommend King Arthur, Bobs Red Mill, or Central Milling. For purchasing large bags of flour (5#, 25#, 50#), join the community bulk flour order through Kings Roost.
Again, organic is the best. The great part of living in LA is access to high quality whole wheat. We love using flour from Tehachapi Grain Project (contact us), and Grist & Toll (order online). Sonora, Red Fife, Rye, and Einkorn are just a few you can experiment with.
Sea Salt - 2%
Organic sea salt is recommended since it retains healthy minerals.
Leaven - 22.5%
Use a young starter (recently fed and doubled). Ideally, use your starter to create the leaven after the second starter build.
If you have a dry starter, check out our instructions for how to rehydrate and use it:
Refresh your starter and let rise until doubled. Repeat once more.
Once your starter is ready, mix with the leaven ingredients and let sit until doubled (see above recipes depending on your preferred baking method).
In a large bowl, dissolve leaven into 700g lukewarm water. Add and mix flours until incorporated. Let sit to autolyse for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. A longer autolyse is preferred to strengthen the gluten structure.
Add salt and remaining water, mix to incorporate. Continue working the dough until it is elastic and does not tear away.
Bulk Fermentation: Cover dough and place in a warm spot (72°-75°) and allow to rise for 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Every 30 minutes (4x), turn dough by folding all four sides into the center.
After the initial rise, dust top with a light coating of flour and turn over onto a clean work surface.
Divide the dough into four 500g pieces.
Shape each piece into a round by pulling four corners into the center, turning over, and tucking the edges under the dough to form a bottom center seam. Roll over so the dough is seam side down. Let rest for 30 minutes.
Reshape the doughs into its final shape (boule or batard), then place the dough top side down (seam up) onto a banneton or fabric lined bowl dusted with rice flour.
If baking the same day, place dough in a cool area to do its final proof. Monitor closely; every home is different. If your home is warm, final proof may only take 1-2hours, while a colder kitchen will extend the time. For the last 30m to 1h, you can place in the fridge so it's easier to score.
If baking later, place dough in the fridge for at least 10 hours and up to 36 hours. When ready, bake straight from the fridge.
Preheat oven to 500° F and place a dutch oven or covered cast iron skillet in the oven for 45 minutes.
When ready to bake, place dough on a piece of parchment paper that fits into the dutch oven. Score the top of dough using a sharp knife or razor. Score can as simple as a cross, or try a decorative cut! This is where you literally leave your mark.
Take out dutch oven and carefully place in dough. Cover and place in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove lid and continue baking for 20 minutes, drop the temperature to 450°F. Remove from the oven and place bread on a cooling rack. Bread is ready when internal temperature reaches 200°, or if bread sounds hollow when bottom is tapped.