Danish Sourdough Bread
Dansk Surdejg

Starter

1 cup flour
1 cup water

Put 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of warm water into an earthenware or glass bowl and let stand at room temperature.  Take a look at the mixture every day to check for the bubbling which means that fermentation has begun. This usually takes about ten days but could happen faster if your kitchen is very warm.  When fermentation is well under way, take off a small amount of the clear liquid which has formed on top.  Measure the quantity of liquid you have.  Mix an equal quantity of half flour and half water.  Combine with the starter liquid and return to the crock.

Add the flour, water, yeast, salt and sugar to the starter in the crock and let stand for at least 12 hours, or until it begins to bubble again.  Let stand, covered, for 18 hours more.  There should be a faint sour odor from the crock.

Put aside one-third of your starter dough after every baking. Start again with Step Three when you want to make bread again.  If you bake every week, the starter dough can be kept at room temperature. Otherwise, store it in your refrigerator and remove it a day before you want to use it.

2 cups flour
1 cup water
1 package dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 pinch salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
flour

Start 10 hours before you want to have fresh loaves of bread on the table

Take 2/3 of the starter from the crock and put into a large mixing bowl.   Add the salt and soda and beat.  Add the eggs and beat until well mix. (Taste the dough now. You don't want it too sour. Your taste buds are probably your best guide. If it's unpleasantly sour, add a pinch more of soda and beat well.)

Add enough flour to make a stiff dough.  Fold over and over, kneading as it is turned and folded.  If the dough gets too stiff, a small amount of melted butter. Shape into one large ball and put in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours.

Turn dough onto a floured board and knead well.  Shape into loaves and place in bread pans. Let rise again covered win a warm place. Bake in a preheated hot oven (400º) for about 1 hour.   When loaves slip from the sides of the pan the bread is done.

 

 2010  Nathan Krämer  Blair, Nebraska   http://www.nathankramer.com/cookbook/