Mindful bread making

How to make a sourdough starter

Ingredients

1kg (2¼lb) whole wheat flour Water

A basic sourdough starter can be made with any wheat or rye flour — it doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. I find wholegrain and organic flour is best as you are trying to harness the natural organisms present on the grain, so the more the better, although it isn’t absolutely necessary. Tap water is perfectly fine for sourdough starters and doughs — you can use very slightly warm water if the weather is cold and you want to give your starter or dough a boost.

The number of days it takes to make the starter will vary, so the times in the chart, opposite, should be used as a guide. In warmer weather the starter will ferment faster, in which case go with the lower end of the scale or even less time. The reverse is true in very cold weather or if your kitchen is especially