900g Moderate Hydration Plain Sourdough Loaf
 This is the dough we used for the Pretty Pumpkin Loaf. It is a great base dough for lots of inclusions, and is a really easy dough to handle on it's own for new to newish bakers looking to learn and nail fermentation and dough development cues.
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900g Moderate Hydration Plain Sourdough Loaf
The Pumpkinless Dough For Our Pretty Pumpkin Loaf
When we created our Pretty Pumpkin Sourdough Loaf tutorial we needed a recipe for a 900g dough - a weight I rarely use at home - and this is the recipe I came up with. Pumpkin shaped loaves aside, it's also a great base dough recipe in its own right, easy to work with and a good one for newer bakers looking to learn and recognize their fermentation and dough development cues. Or anyone working with 9 inch boule (round) bannetons.
This loaf is deliberately unfussy: bread flour, a little whole wheat, water, starter, and salt. No inclusions, and nothing to hide or mess with gluten development or fermentation. Check out our Pretty Pumpkin Sourdough Loaf tutorial if you haven't already - the steps for tying, scoring and baking are over there.Â
Baking and Enjoying This Recipe
What Makes This Loaf Worth Baking?
- A Great Foundational Recipe: no inclusions to interfere with 'normal' sourdough behavior, detailed steps, and the right weight for a 9inch banetton. A really good recipe to practice reading fermentation cues instead of chasing a clock.
- It Turns Into A Pumpkin: bake a big, beautiful boule, or follow our tutorial for the Pretty Pumpkin Loaf.
Tips for Success
- Look For The Signs, Not The Timer: you're ready to move on from bulk fermentation when the dough has doubled, looks domed and smooth on top, and jiggles easily when you shake the bowl gently.
- Don't Skip The Cold Retard: 12-24 hours in the fridge after shaping firms the dough up and makes it easier to handle and score.
- Want To Make It Pretty?: get some twine, a good lame and a cinnamon stick and make a fall showpiece.
Pairing Ideas
Baked plain, this is an everyday loaf: good toast, good sandwiches, nothing precious about it. Dressed up as the Pretty Pumpkin Loaf, it belongs center-stage at any fall feast.
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