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4.38 from 16 votes

2 Ingredient Sourdough Bread

This shortcut sourdough bread has a taste and texture like traditional sourdough but doesn't require a sourdough starter. No need to feed a starter or keep it alive. This bread is just 2 ingredients and very easy to make.
Servings: 8 slices
Prep Time: 10 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 4 cups (530 g) self-rising flour, see note before starting
  • 2 cups (16 fl oz/473 ml) lowfat plain kefir

Instructions
 

  • In a large glass mixing bowl, combine the flour and kefir. Mix well with a spatula until a shaggy dough forms. The dough will be sticky and wet.
  • Tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it into the fridge. Let the dough rest and proof for 4-6 hours (up to 12 hours). The longer the dough rests, the better the flavor will be but the dough will also be wetter and harder to work with if rested too long.
  • About 30 minutes before baking, preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C). Place a large Dutch oven (4.3 quarts or bigger) with its lid on in the oven while it preheats. This is important. The dutch oven needs to preheat before adding the bread.
  • After the dough has rested, wet your hands with some water. Grab one side of the dough, stretch it upward, and then fold it over the center of the dough. Repeat this process from all eight sides of the dough.
  • Lightly flour a work surface with self-rising flour. Carefully turn the dough out onto the floured surface, seam side down. Use a bench scraper or lightly floured hands to rotate and drag the dough towards yourself on the floured surface, until you form a round, taut ball.
  • Place the shaped dough, seam side down, onto a piece of parchment paper.
  • Remove the preheated Dutch oven from the oven. Remove the lid and carefully transfer the parchment paper with the dough into the hot Dutch oven.
  • Put the lid back on and place it back into the oven to bake covered for 30 minutes.
  • After 30 minutes, remove the lid and continue baking the bread for another 15-20 minutes or until the bread is browned on the surface and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
  • Let bread cool fully before cutting and serving.

Notes

  • The bread needs to be baked in a Dutch oven in order for it to rise properly and develop it's crusty exterior.
  • Self-rising flour: There are 2 main kinds of self-rising flour sold in the US. One that is a lower protein (2 grams per 1/4 cup (30g)) flour and one that has a regular amount of protein (3 grams per 1/4 cup (30 g)). Brands like King Arthur Flour and White Lily make the low protein flour. Brands like Gold Medal and most store/generic brands contain a regular protein amount. The amount of protein affects how much liquid is absorbed. For this recipe, you want a flour with a regular amount of protein. Please use a self-rising flour with 3 grams of protein per 1/4 cup (30 g). Or make your own self-rising flour with the recipe below.
  • The self-rising flour brands we made this bread with successfully are Gold Medal* and Amazon Fresh.*
  • Homemade self-rising flour: Combine 4 cups of all purpose flour, 2 tbsp baking powder and 2 tsp salt. Whisk to evenly combine. Make sure the all purpose flour you are using contains 3 grams of protein per 1/4 cup. Most brands in the US contain this amount but there are some brands with higher protein (4 grams per 1/4 cup) such as King Arthur Flour and Bob's Red Mill. You do not want a high protein flour for this bread. It will be dense and dry.
  •  I used Lifeway plain low-fat kefir.*
  • *This product link is an affiliate link. This means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Serving: 1slice, Calories: 228kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 0.4g, Sodium: 731mg, Sugar: 2g, NET CARBS: 46
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
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