Basic Sourdough Boule

Name: Basic Sourdough Boule
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup active sourdough starter; 1 1/2 cups warm water; 4 cups bread flour; 2 tsp salt

12 servings30 min prep45 min cookMedium

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Basic Sourdough Boule

Story updated September 18, 2026

The boule, a round sourdough loaf, reflects one of the oldest bread shapes and fermentation methods in human history, with wild-yeast leavened bread dating back thousands of years to ancient Egypt, long before commercial yeast existed.

Ingredients

Scale:· 12 servings

1 cup active sourdough starter
1 1/2 cups warm water
4 cups bread flour
2 tsp salt

Instructions

1Whisk starter and water together.
2Stir in flour and salt to form a shaggy dough.
3Rest 30 minutes, then perform 4-6 sets of stretch-and-folds over 2 hours.
4Bulk ferment 4-6 hours at room temperature, until puffy and nearly doubled.
5Shape into a round, place in a floured proofing basket, and chill overnight.
6Score the top and bake in a preheated Dutch oven at 450°F, covered 20 minutes then uncovered 20-25 minutes.

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