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1
Mix the sourdough ingredients: First mix 300 g rye flour and 30-50 g breadcrumbs from old bread (more will make the bread more chewy and have a nice aroma).
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2
Put the sourdough starter on the flour and pour the warm water over it.
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3
Mix with your hands until no longer floury.
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4
Cover and let rise for 12-16 hours at room temp.
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5
After the sourdough part is done, it's time to mix the main dough.
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6
First dissolve salt in 500 g warm water.
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7
Put another 150 g of breadcrumbs made from stale/dry bread into a bowl.
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8
Pour the salt water over the breadcrumbs, mix and let soak for 1 hour in a warm place.
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9
In another bowl, lightly mix the 700 g rye flour with the malt syrup/molasses and yeast.
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10
In a separate large bowl, add the breadcrumb water, then add the flour mix, and then sourdough on top.
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11
Mixing from around the edges, gradual work the liquid into the rye flour.
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12
When the liquid is all absorbed and roughly mixed, move to next step.
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13
Next work the dough from the center with your hands, squeezing and bringing together until there's no more flour visible and no more crumbly pieces.
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14
Once the ball of dough comes together, remove to working surface and cut in two.
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15
Fold in caraway seeds if you like here.
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16
Pattern 1 - for bread with big beautiful cracks in the surface (the bread on the right side in the main photo - Form the dough into a round ball by folding the edges down and around toward the bottom center.
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17
Instead of closing the fold neatly, leave it rough and open.
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18
Put rough fold side down into flour dusted banneton.
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19
Pattern 2 - for a pretty crackled patter like the bread on the left side in the main photo - Form into a smooth ball, then moisten the top and sides by rolling on a moist towel.
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20
Roll in rye flour and place top up in a well floured banneton.
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21
Let the dough rise 2-3 hours until fully proofed.
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22
{For pattern 1 bread}: Gently tip the banneton over and let the dough slide out into your hand (the fold side that was at the bottom of the banneton will be on top).
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23
Place the dough fold side up on a baking sheet (the dough on the left side in the photo).
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24
{For pattern 2 bread}: Tip the banneton over and let the dough slide into your hand.
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25
Flip it back over so the flour covered, cracked surface is on top (the side that was at the top in the banneton will be at the top again).
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26
Bake for 40 minutes at 260C/500F with steam.
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27
After first 5 minutes release steam and lower temperature to 250C/480F and bake for another 25 minutes.
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28
Then lower temperature again to 200C/400F and bake another 20 minutes.
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29
Check doneness by tapping the bottom of the bread - if it sounds hollow it's finished.
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30
If not bake for a few more minutes.