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Freshly baked San Francisco sourdough bread cut in half to show its airy crumb and golden crust.

Authentic San Francisco Sourdough Bread recipe

This authentic San Francisco sourdough bread recipe makes a tangy, crusty loaf using just flour, water, salt, and an active starter. Mix, fold, let it rise, and bake it in a Dutch oven for a perfect homemade sourdough that serves four people. Enjoy fresh slices with butter, soups, or sandwiches!
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Prep Time 16 hours
Cook Time 48 minutes
Cooling 1 hour
Total Time 17 hours 48 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Breakfast, brunch
Cuisine: American, San Francisco
Calories: 200
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups 250g bread flour
  • 1 cup 120g active sourdough starter
  • ½ cup 120ml filtered water (adjust if needed)
  • 1½ teaspoons sea salt

Method
 

  1. Feed Starter: Make sure your starter is bubbly and active before you start.
  2. Mix Dough: In a bowl, mix flour and water. Let it rest for 30 minutes (autolyse).
  3. Add Starter & Salt: Add the sourdough starter and salt. Mix well by hand until combined.
  4. Stretch & Fold: Let dough rest 30 minutes. Then do 3–4 rounds of stretch and fold every 30 minutes.
  5. Bulk Ferment: Cover and let it rise at room temperature until doubled (about 4–6 hours).
  6. Shape & Proof: Shape into a round loaf. Place in a floured bowl or proofing basket. Cover and refrigerate overnight (8–12 hours).
  7. Preheat & Bake: Preheat oven to 475°F (245°C) with Dutch oven inside. Place dough on parchment, score the top, and bake covered for 20 minutes, then uncovered for 20–25 minutes until golden brown.
  8. Cool: Let cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.