Easy sourdough rye bread recipe - Sourdough&Olives (2024)

It’s about time I bake something with more rye, don’t you think? Most of the bread you find among the recipes on this blog contains mainly wheat flour.
For some strange reason, wheat flour seems to have a higher “status” than rye when it comes to baking. Besides, it is good for your health if you replace some wheat with rye
Despite that, bread baked with wheat flour seems to have a leading position on blogs (mine included), sourdough forums, and Facebook groups.
It’s weird because one of the most important reasons for baking with sourdough starter is that you get bread that tastes more.
I think you’ll agree with me when I say that sourdough rye bread tastes more than wheat. Still, most people seem to favor wheat bread.

Why is that?

One reason can be that it’s hard to bake bread with airy crumb if you bake with rye flour. Wheat flour is superior when it comes to that thanks to its high gluten content.
You also have to be more careful when kneading a dough with rye flour than with wheat flour. You can overwork it. Something that is quite hard with wheat dough.
Sometimes you don’t want bread that tastes too much, for example, if it is to be served to food.
Or perhaps some people just don’t like rye bread. What do I know?

Easy sourdough rye bread recipe - Sourdough&Olives (1)

I know one thing.

I like rye bread, and I think there are many of you who do the same.
So let’s start baking some great bread with a lot of rye.
When I say a lot, I don’t mean all rye. We will add some wheat flour, but only 40%. That gives you bread that is not so dense like bread baked only on rye tends to be.
If you don’t use your dough mixer, there’s no risk that you will overwork the dough. A few stretch and folds will be enough.

PREPARING THE DOUGH

As I mentioned earlier, I used both rye and wheat flour for this recipe.
The Protein content is 12.5% for the wheat flour and 8.5 for the rye.
The hydration is 75%. You may have to adjust that figure if you’re using stronger flour.
I’ve used my wheat starter (coaxed with some rye), but feel free to use a rye starter if that’s what you have available.
All ingredients were mixed, except the salt. After that I let the dough rest for an hour. I say rest and not autolyze. According to the hardcore sourdough aficionados, the starter is added after the autolyze. And I don’t want to mess with those guys.
After the rest, I added salt and performed the first stretch and fold.
I have described that process earlier in this recipe. Here you can also find an excellent video showing how to do.

Easy sourdough rye bread recipe - Sourdough&Olives (2)

BULK FERMENTATION

Try to find a warm place for the bulk fermentation, preferably 78ºF/25ºC. That can be tricky if you are living in the northern hemisphere at this time of year. I use to place the dough in the oven with the lamp lit. That works fine, but you have to be a bit careful. It can be too hot, so I use to open the lid now and then and check the temperature with a thermometer. I let the dough ferment for 4 hours.

FINAL RISE

The time required for the final rise depends on many factors. The surrounding temperature and the strength of the starter are just two of many. You can let it ferment at room temperature or in the refrigerator depending on taste and how much time you have. Fermentation in cold temperature takes longer of course, but it also gives more taste to the bread. The end result can be quite sour though, so if you don’t like that, you should consider letting the dough ferment at room temperature.
It’s almost impossible to give advice about the time required for the final rise. Therefore I have stopped doing that. Instead, I encourage my readers to observe and touch the dough. The finger poke test gives you a hint when it’s time to bake. I have described the test in an earlier recipe, and you can read about it here.

Easy sourdough rye bread recipe - Sourdough&Olives (3)

TIME TO BAKE

Preheat the oven to 480ºF / 250ºC. I have used a baking stone for the bread on the pictures, but you can also use a dutch oven with good result. If you don’t have any of those items, It’s OK to use an oven sheet.
Always score the loaf before baking. Otherwise, you may end up with some interesting but undesired forms on your bread.
Always use steam in your oven when baking bread. It doesn’t have to be anything advanced. An extra preheated oven sheet that you can pour some water on before you close the oven lid is OK. Steam prevents the surface from drying out and gives the crust a more pleasant color.
This bread needs about 35 minutes in the oven. You may have to lower the heat during the last 10-15 minutes.

Easy sourdough rye bread recipe - Sourdough&Olives (4)

This is not a fancy or spectacular bread. It’s just an ordinary, hearty sourdough rye bread. The kind of bread I want for breakfast. Like my best sourdough bread, It’s quite easy to bake. I just have to bake this more often.

Easy sourdough rye bread recipe - Sourdough&Olives (5)

Easy sourdough rye bread recipe - Sourdough&Olives (6)

Easy sourdough rye bread recipe

This recipe for a sourdough rye bread is quite simple. But it will give you bread with lots of taste and character from the rye.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 hrs

Cook Time 45 mins

Total Time 5 hrs 45 mins

Cuisine Bread

Servings 2 loaves

Ingredients

  • 300 gram sourdough starter 100% hydration
  • 600 gram water
  • 350 gram Wheat flour 11.5% protein content.
  • 500 gram whole rye flour 8.5% protein content.
  • 20 gram sea salt

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients except the salt. Make sure that all flour is hydrated. Let the dough rest for an hour.

  • Add salt and perform one stretch and fold. Perform 3 sets of stretch and folds in total during bulk fermentation, spaced out by 30 minutes.

  • Let the dough rest for 4 hours at a temperature of 78ºF/25ºC.

  • Lightly flour your work surface and dump out the dough. Divide it into two pieces with your bench knife. Flatten the dough gently with your hands. Form each piece of dough to a bâtard There's a link to an excellent video showing how to form a bâtard in the recipe notes

  • Let the loaves rise until they pass the the finger poke test. The time required depends a lot on ambient temperature so don't look at the clock.

  • Preheat your oven to 480ºF / 250ºC with two oven plates. One to bake the bread on and one just below. If you have a baking stone or dutch oven, use them.

  • Score the loaves in your preferred pattern and place them in the oven. Pour some water on the plate below and bake each loaf in 35-45 minutes.

  • Let the breads cool on wire racks.

Notes

For those who prefer to use a stretch and fold technique instead of running the dough into a dough mixer, you may findthis videohelpful. You can also look at one of myprevious recipes.

Maurizio from The perfect loaf has made an excellent video showinghow to form a bâtard.

Keyword sourdough bread

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Easy sourdough rye bread recipe - Sourdough&Olives (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you add olive oil to sourdough bread? ›

Yes - adding olive oil to sourdough bread will result in a softer crust and crumb. The oil as a lipid coats the flour and inhibits the gluten network resulting in a softer, tighter crumb and softer crust. This can be a desirable outcome if you do not like tough, chewy sourdough crusts.

What is the secret to good sourdough bread? ›

  • An active starter.
  • An autolyse.
  • A high hydration.
  • Sufficient dough strength.
  • A warm and complete bulk fermentation.
  • A long, cold proof.

What is the difference between sourdough and rye sourdough? ›

Wheat sourdough possesses creamy coconut notes from lactones, while rye is less creamy and more tropical banana and pineapple-like with an additional citrusy / orange aftertaste. Rye sourdough produces an extra buttery taste and roasted malty popcorn flavor, though t is poorer in spiciness notes in comparison to wheat.

How to make sourdough bread more holey? ›

If I want holes in my bread, I stretch and fold the dough every 60 minutes or so during the bulk fermentation of a sourdough bread and every 30 minutes or so during the bulk fermentation of a bread with added yeast.

Does olive oil stop dough from rising? ›

The oil will not absorb into the flour or the gluten that forms as a result of the fermentation process. All that oil does is give your dough a coating of elasticity. Aside from providing a barrier for your dough throughout the proofing phase, this will not prevent your dough from rising.

What does olive oil do to dough? ›

The presence of oil in bread alters its texture. Oils and fats are 'shortening' agents. It wasn't until I started my deep exploration into the ways of yeast and gluten that I really appreciated what 'shortening' might mean. In order to achieve the required spongy texture, two things need to happen.

What makes sourdough bread more flavorful? ›

Longer fermentation

As your dough proofs, the good bacteria eats up sugars and starches in the flour. This decreases the sweet undertone and creates a more sour undertone. The longer you ferment, the more starches and sugars the bacteria eats, and the more sour your bread will be.

What is the best flour for sourdough bread? ›

The best flour blend for creating a new sourdough starter is 50% whole-meal flour (whole wheat or whole rye) and 50% bread flour or all-purpose flour. I recommend a 50/50 mix of whole wheat flour and bread flour.

What is the healthiest flour for sourdough bread? ›

Compared to whole wheat flour, rye flour is said to be the most nutrient- and amylase-dense option for a sourdough starter. Overall, it has a lower gluten protein content than wheat flour, which means it produces slack, sticky, and dense doughs.

Which bread is healthier, rye or sourdough? ›

As long as they're made with whole grains and have limited or no added sugar, both rye bread and sourdough bread are healthy bread options. Sourdough bread may be even healthier than regular bread because the fermentation makes certain vitamins and minerals easier for our bodies to absorb.

Is rye sourdough anti inflammatory? ›

Refined grains, such as the grains found in white bread and white pasta, are known to increase inflammation across the whole body. Sourdough bread and rye bread are both good options for an anti-inflammatory diet.

Is rye sourdough good for your gut? ›

Rye bread may help improve your digestive health in several ways. First, it's a good source of fiber, which can help keep your bowels regular. Soluble fiber absorbs water, helping stools stay large and soft, making them easier to pass ( 12 ).

Why is my homemade sourdough bread gummy? ›

Too much water can also produce a damp loaf. Try less water with your flour. Uneven heat in your oven can be the culprit – if you loaf is nicely golden on the outside but gummy or moist in the inside, it's baking too quickly on the outside. Trying reducing the temperature you're baking at and bake for a bit longer.

What does overproofed sourdough look like? ›

Note: As loaves begin to overproof they lose their height and shape. The crumb becomes more dense. The holes become more ragged and irregular in shape. The crust begins to thin and separate from the crumb.

Why is my homemade sourdough bread so dense? ›

One of the most common mistakes is having a dough temperature that's too low for the starter to feed on all the flour in the dough, resulting in a crumb that's dense, with fewer openings. "Starter is happiest and most active at around 75 degrees. If it's a lot colder, the process will be much slower.

Does olive oil change the taste of bread? ›

Because of olive oil's distinct flavor, it might affect the flavor of the baked product.

What happens when you add oil to bread? ›

Busby's Bakery shares that adding oil to bread dough has many benefits. It can help your loaf to retain moisture, makes the texture denser, and enhances flavor.

Is it OK to put olive oil on bread? ›

For those days when even boiling a pot of rice or pasta feels like too much, just pop some good quality bread in the toaster. Drizzle with olive oil and salt, and you're done.

Can you put olive oil in dough? ›

Craft Olive Oil: The Secret Ingredient in Your Favorite Crispy Pizza Crust. Improve the texture and boost the flavor of any homemade pizza by adding quality olive oil to the dough.

References

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