sourdough

sourdough, leaven made of flour, water, and wild yeasts by a process of fermentation, used to make bread and other baked goods.

Sourdough is made by combining flour and water and then setting it aside for a period of a few days. During this time, yeasts that are naturally present in the air combine with the mixture and begin to ferment, which creates the sour flavour noted in its name. In order to make bread, the fermented leaven is added to a second batch of flour and water, kneaded, and baked. Some chefs set aside a portion of dough or fermented leaven to serve as a starter culture for subsequent batches of bread; such starters can last for an indefinite amount of time and are prized for their longevity. Sourdough starters can be purchased as well as made at home or in a restaurant kitchen.

After fermentation, dough is shaped to suit the vessel in which the bread will be baked. French bakers favour the boule (ball) form, while many home chefs use a simple rectangular baking pan. The dough lends itself to experimentation, and, while the basic flavour will remain the same, sourdough loaves can take many forms.

There is much discussion among chefs about the origin of the yeasts that make sourdough what it is. Some argue that it is from microbes on the bodies of the chefs themselves, others the grain and water used, and still others the climate. The last is probably the most important factor, and some places—San Francisco notable among them—produce sourdough bread and sourdough cultures that are held superior in flavour to others. Scientists working on the metagenomics of sourdough, however, suggest that it may be a combination of factors that shape the quality of the starter.

The fermentation process involved in making sourdough bread helps free B vitamins from flour, and it has probiotic qualities that are believed to be beneficial to gut flora. Fermentation also helps break down gluten, to which many people are sensitive. Overall, dietitians hold that sourdough bread, especially if made with whole grains, is more healthful than processed bread that uses baker’s yeast.