Baking your own bread at home is not so difficult as it seems. Besides, the satisfaction to eat the bread made by your own hands is unparalleled.
All you need for baking your own home bread is flour, water and some sugar and salt. Of course, you can use the traditional yeast as raising agent, as the most bakeries do. But there is another way to get the dough raised. An old one, invented perhaps by the ancient Egyptians, but also used by our grandmothers in their kitchens.
We are talking about a leaven made using floor and water only. First of all, you need to use a fresh, good quality flour. Best are wheat or rye flour, wholegrain if possible. You can find out here how to get a leaven using these two ingredients only. It takes some time indeed, but the results are spectacular.
Otherwise, to way to knead, to leaven and to bake the dough is quite similar. The most important thing is to make sure the dough is well worked and well kneaded, so that the gluten in the flour activates properly. You’ll get a fluffy, well-raised bread, which will make you proud.
Sourdough bread, made as described here, has several advantages if compared with the bread made following the traditional path, using yeast as raising agent. First of all, it tastes much better. But it also lasts longer and it is 100% natural. No additives, no preservatives, no emulsifiers, so a lot of benefits for your health.
So take some extra time before your next meal and try to prepare your own sourdough bread. It may be worth the effort.
Picture courtesy of kuplio.ro
