Traditional sourdough bread isn't made without a sourdough starter. Often this involves the simplest ingredients of water, yeast and flour. But did you know you can also make sourdough starter with potato flakes? Check out this easy-to-make sourdough starter that actually uses potato flakes!
Table of Contents
For the beginning
- 2 glasses of warm water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 spoons sugar
- 1 spoon instant peak
- 4 tablespoons instant potato flakes
To feed the engine
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup warm water
- 3 tablespoons instant potato flakes
To make bread
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup potato flake sourdough starter
- 1 tablespoon instant peak
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 6 cups bread flour (you must use only bread flour, otherwise the bread will not rise)
Making and feeding the starter
- Combine the starting ingredients together and leave until the potato flakes rise.
- Place the sourdough starter uncovered in the refrigerator and feed it every 5-7 days.
- Feed the starter the night before you plan to bake.
- After feeding, let the starter sit on the kitchen counter all day or overnight before baking your bread (at least 8 hours). It should start to bubble or foam.
Making sourdough bread
If your engine is starting to split, then don't panic, as this is completely normal. Just stir your starter so the mixture melts together before adding it to the bowl.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the water, sugar, sourdough starter, oil, and 1 tablespoon of instant yeast. Let rest for 10 minutes, or until the yeast becomes active and foamy.
- Once the yeast is activated, add salt and 5 cups of bread flour. Mix well, then slowly add the last cup of flour.
- The dough will be sticky, but should easily pull away from the bowl and hold its shape.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and spray the dough with cooking spray. Place the dough back in the bowl to rest. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a tea towel sprayed with cooking spray. This should prevent the dough from sticking after it has risen.
- Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
- Once the dough has risen, you need to shape the dough into your sourdough. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions and form a patty by placing them in a greased pan.
- Cover them with greased wrap and place them in a warm place to rise for 1-2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake these loaves for 30 minutes.
- Remove the loaves from the pans and place the baked loaves on a cooling rack. Brush the tops with melted butter and enjoy.
- Preparation time: 10 min
- Cooking time: 30 min
- Category: bread
- Kitchen: US
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 300 calories
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Protein: 30 g
Keywords: Potato Sourdough Bread Starter
Can you use potato flakes instead of flour?
You can use it completely potato flakes instead of a flour-based sourdough starter. This is quite different from traditional sourdough starters as it requires the help of instant yeast to rise. Although just like traditional sourdough bread the process is the same, in terms of resting the dough and fermentation.
However, if you continue to feed the potato sourdough starter, it will only get better.
Potato Flake Sourdough Starter
If you enjoy experimenting with your starter as much as you enjoy experimenting with recipes (such as recipe for sourdough without starter…yes, it exists!), then hopefully a potato flaked sourdough bread is on the menu tonight!
Frequently asked questions
Is sourdough made from potatoes?
No. Sourdough is made from flour and water, followed by optional flavoring ingredients. Although you can make a sourdough starter with potato flour if you really want to!
Why throw away most of the starter?
Discarding some of the sourdough starter is part of the feeding process and ensures that the starter does not outgrow its container. It is also done to refresh the acidity levels in the starter.
