Rosemary Lemon Starter Recipes

LEMON ROSEMARY SOURDOUGH BREAD

Steps:

• You need to make sure your sourdough starter is bubbly and ready to go. If it has not been fed recently, take a few spoonfuls of sourdough starter from your fridge and give it that much flour and water and let it ferment for 6 - 8 hours. Here is more help for a bubbly sourdough starter.

RUSTIC ROSEMARY SOURDOUGH BREAD

Steps:

• Place all of the ingredients in a stand mixer and knead on the "2" bread setting for 6-8 minutes until a smooth dough forms. (Alternatively knead by hand for about double the length of time.) Form the dough into a ball, lightly spray the bowl with oil, return the dough to the bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Set in a warm place and let it rise for about 90 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Punch the dough down with your fist. Form the dough into a round and place it in a 10" banneton (recommended) or comparable loaf pan. Let the dough rise again for about one hour until nearly doubled in size. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• If using a banneton, invert the bread onto a baking stone or sheet. Spray the dough with water and use a long serrated knife to cut two 1/2 inch diagonal slashes into the dough. Sprinkle with some extra rosemary and some coarse salt like fleur de sel.Bake the bread for 25 to 30 minutes, until it's a dark golden brown. NOTE: You can also place the bread on a baking stone that's been preheated. The baking stone absorbs the oven's heat and transfers it to the bread for an evenly crispy crust. Transfer the bread to a wire rack and let it cool. Best enjoyed while still warm. Also excellent toasted or made into grilled cheese sandwiches.
• NOTE: For the BEST flavor and texture results, wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap before the first rise and let it sit in the fridge for at least 24 hours, punch it down occasionally, and then let it rise as normal at room temperature when you're ready to bake it (note, it will take longer since the dough is cold).

LEVAIN (STARTER)

Steps:

• Add the flour directly into the container with the full batch of room-temperature, batter-like ripe chef. Stir vigorously to add fresh oxygen to the mixture. This will form a stiff consistency more like a stiff dough than a batter. This firm texture is important for ripening levain, because a dense rather than loose levain creates delicious sour bread without an overpowering tangy bite. Scrape down the sides, cover tightly and let stand in a cool to moderate (about 70 degrees) draft-free place for 8 to 10 hours.
• The levain should have doubled in volume. The texture will be somewhat light, with many tiny bubbles throughout. Do not let the levain stand for longer than 10 hours, or the yeast will become exhausted and not raise the final dough. Learn more about the levain starter, including how to maintain and nourish the chef, in Dan Lieder's book "Bread Alone".

ROSEMARY-LEMON STARTER

Steps:

• In a tall glass or drink shaker, add the sugar and rosemary. With a muddling stick, crush the sugar with the rosemary until it bruises and becomes more fragrant, a good honest 30 to 45 seconds. Work it! Then pour in the lemon juice and muddle a bit more. Add the vodka and half of the ice, then cover the glass and vigorously shake for about 10 seconds. Pour evenly over the remaining ice in 2 lowball glasses. Drink!