To Mix by Hand in the Bowl

Appears in
Modern Sourdough: Sweet and Savoury Recipes from Margot Bakery
Modern Sourdough

By Michelle Eshkeri

Published 2019

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  1. Once the starter and salt have been added and squeezed through the dough, grip the bowl with one hand and use the other one to reach under it and take a handful of the dough from the bottom of the bowl. Bring it up and over to the middle point of the top of the dough.
  2. Repeat the process turning the bowl a little with each movement, so that you move around the dough evenly, pulling it up and stretching it onto itself in a circular motion. You don’t have to be too firm or pull very hard; it is a relatively gentle process. Keep going until the dough feels stronger and it starts to pull away from you when you try to stretch it. This will usually take 5–10 minutes when making bread.
  3. Stop at this point and begin the rest period suggested in the recipe before making the series of folds that complete the bulk fermentation.