
There is something deeply satisfying about a loaf of bread made from nothing but flour, water, salt, and a living starter — and this classic sourdough delivers exactly that. The ingredient list is refreshingly short and completely clean, which means no hidden additives, no lecithins, no mono- and diglycerides, and none of the emulsifiers that sneak into almost every commercial loaf on the shelf. The fermentation process does all the heavy lifting here: the active starter works through a long bulk rise and an overnight cold proof to develop flavor and structure naturally, no shortcuts needed. Stretch-and-fold sets build a strong, open crumb, while baking inside a preheated Dutch oven traps steam and produces that signature blistered, mahogany crust you'd expect from a serious bakery. The whole wheat flour adds a gentle nuttiness and depth without complicating the process, and the result is a loaf with a chewy, airy interior that slices beautifully once it has had time to cool and set. It takes patience across a couple of days, but the hands-on time is minimal and the payoff — a genuinely pure, emulsifier-free bread you made yourself — is absolutely worth it.
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In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sourdough starter and 350 g of the lukewarm water until the starter is fully dissolved and the mixture looks milky and slightly foamy.
Add the bread flour and whole wheat flour to the bowl and mix with your hand or a stiff spatula until no dry flour remains and a shaggy dough forms. Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 30–45 minutes (autolyse).
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