You have a starter, you have the basic tools, now let’s understand some of the terminology for sourdough baking. This is an overview to consolidate and share what I’ve learned as fail-safe ways for an amateur home-baker to succeed every time at baking sourdough bread. Where relevant, I have shared what I think are the best videos or sites should you wish to learn each of the components in more detail.
It’s no secret that plant-based food is becoming mainstream. Whether it’s college campuses cutting beef from cafeteria menus or governments adopting the Meat Free Monday movement, plant-based food is no longer hiding in the closet. But in the past year plant-based food has taken center stage in some of the most high-profile events and venues on the planet, recognized mainly for its environmental and ethical advantages.
To bake sourdough bread, you need a sourdough starter (basically a natural form of levain, or the yeast in baking if you will). If you are making the starter from scratch, I suggest you make the starter at least a week before you intend to bake any bread to make it active.
When it’s tough to buy noodles to your liking with a sauce that is plant-based and tasty….you start making at home! This is a staple Japanese / Chinese fusion dish that is commonly seen in the summer in most ramen stands in Japan. I love it all year round though!
I bake a lot of sourdough bread at home. A good hearty soup packed with lentils is my go-to when I want a simple way to eat lots of goodness with a loaf of bread. I do no-oil for myself, but for those gourmet folks, I have added how you can make it even better with some olive oil and veg broth. To blend it, I use an immersion blender (hand blender).
As of the date I found out I was pregnant, I had already been eating only plant-based for 3 years so there was no dispute as to what my diet would look like for the duration of pregnancy. However, I was also aware that in Japan, this would be a challenge as a) many doctors and midwives may not be familiar with the diet enough to recommend and support my decision, and b) family and relatives would not hesitate to point fingers at my ‘not normal’ diet if/when something was not looking right.