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Whole Wheat Sourdough Loaf
Desi

Whole Wheat Sourdough Loaf

A hearty whole wheat sourdough loaf built for hot, humid kitchens, with a thirstier, grainier dough that's expected, not a sign anything's gone wrong.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Rest / Ferment (+ Overnight Cold Proof) 17 hours
Total Time 18 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 1 loaf (about 12 slices)
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Calories: 175

Ingredients
  

  • 250 g (about 2 cups) Caputo Chef 00 flour
  • 250 g (about 2 cups) Caputo Integrale whole wheat flour
  • 375 g (1½ cups + 1 Tbsp) filtered water, lukewarm
  • 120 g (½ cup) active sourdough starter
  • 11 g (about 2 teaspoons) fine sea salt

Equipment

  • Kitchen scale
  • Banneton (proofing basket) with a cloth liner
  • Dutch oven
  • Lame or a very sharp, thin blade
  • Shower cap or a reusable bowl cover
  • Parchment paper
  • Ice cubes (about 4)
  • Baking sheet
  • Cooling rack

Method
 

  1. Mix 375 g (1½ cups + 1 Tbsp) lukewarm filtered water with 120 g (½ cup) active starter until dissolved.
  2. Mix in 250 g (2 cups) Caputo Chef 00 flour. Add 11 g (about 2 tsp) salt along with 250 g (2 cups) Caputo Integrale whole wheat flour, and mix until combined into a sticky, shaggy dough.
  3. Cover and rest 30-40 minutes.
  4. Stretch and fold: pull the dough up at the side of the bowl and fold it toward the center, rotating the bowl to fold every side. Cover and rest 30 minutes.
  5. Repeat the stretch and fold three more times, for a total of 4 rounds, resting 30 minutes between rounds.
  6. Bulk ferment 2-3 hours at room temperature, until risen about 50% (not doubled).
  7. Loosen the dough from the bowl and turn it out onto a floured surface.
  8. Pre-shape by folding the top edges in twice, then roll into a tight loaf, tighten the surface into a taut skin, and pinch the ends closed.
  9. Flour the banneton well. Flip the dough in so the smooth shaped side is on the bottom, pinch the seam closed on top, dust with flour, and cover with a breathable cloth.
  10. Refrigerate overnight.
  11. Preheat oven with a Dutch oven inside to 475°F for 30 minutes.
  12. Turn the dough onto parchment, score at a 45° angle, transfer to the Dutch oven, then add 4 ice cubes under the parchment paper.
  13. Bake covered 30 minutes, then uncovered 10 minutes.
  14. Move to a baking sheet and bake open 5 minutes more for a lighter crust (longer for darker).
  15. Cool on a rack at least 1 hour, ideally 3, before slicing.

Notes

Built for hot, humid kitchens. Stop bulk fermentation at 50% risen, not doubled. This dough will feel thirstier and grainier than an all-white dough. That's expected with whole wheat in the mix.