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Rye Sourdough Starter:
1 tablespoon dry yeast
3 cups tepid water, divided
3-1/2 cups rye flour, divided
1 small onion, peeled and halved
Bread:
1-1/2 cups warm water(110°F)
2-1/4 teaspoons yeast
1/2 teaspoon sugar
4 teaspoons kosher salt
3 cups Rye Sourdough Starter, measured after stirring down
2 cups high gluten flour
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
cornmeal
1 egg white, beaten with 2 tablespoons water, for glaze
2 teaspoons caraway seeds for topping and more for inside if
desired
Make Rye Sourdough Starter:
48 hours before beginning rye bread, make this
starter.
Mix 1 tablespoon dry yeast in 2 cups of tepid water. Beat in 2
cups of rye flour. Add a small onion, peeled and halved. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours.
Remove onion. Beat in 1 cup tepid water and 1-1/2 cups
rye flour. Cover and let stand for 24 hours longer.
This can be used immediately or refrigerated for 24 hours.
This preparation makes about 4 cups of starter (a bit
more than required for the bread).
Make the Bread:
The following directions are for hand kneading. If you
have a heavy duty food processor, put all dough
ingredients in work bowl after you have made the yeast
starter. Add starter and combine. Dough will be fairly
sticky. Don't use a food processor unless it is quite
durable; this is a very heavy dough.
Combine 1/2 cup warm water, yeast, sugar, and let
stand until double, about 10 minutes.
Dissolve salt in remaining water. Mix in sourdough
starter, then yeast mix. Add gluten flour and 2 cups
of all-purpose flour and optional caraway seeds; make
a soft dough.
Spread 1-1/2 cups flour on kneading surface and turn
dough out on it. Knead, adding more flour, to make a
soft dough. Do not overknead. The dough should be only
slightly elastic, even a bit sticky.
Form dough into a ball, and put in an ungreased bowl.
Cover with plastic, and let rise until double, about 1-1/2
hours.
Knead, cover with towel, and let rest for 15 minutes.
Divide into 2 parts. Form each into 12" loaf.
Pinch seam, and place seam down on cornmeal-dusted
sheet.
Cover and let rise until 3/4 proof.
Put a large pan with 2" water in oven. Preheat
to 400°F. Place quarry tiles on upper shelf of oven.
Brush loaves with egg-white glaze, slash with knife.
Sprinkle seeds on top.
Bake for 30 minutes on tiles.
Brush again with glaze; bake an additional 20-30
minutes.
Poster's Notes:
Here's my favorite rye bread recipe; I've used it
for years. Note that you have to put the starter
together 48 hours before you make the bread
Posted by Nancy Berry
Nutritional Info Per Serving:
N/A