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How to Make San Francisco Sourdough Bread. There's a simple reason this tangy bread is
famous – it's delicious! You will need One ¼-ounce package, plus one tablespoon of active
dry yeast 3 ½ tbsp. sugar, divided 1 c. all-purpose flour 2 c. warm water 4 ¾ c. bread flour,
divided 2 ½ tsp. salt 1 c. warm milk 2 tbsp. butter, softened Olive oil Cornmeal 1 extra
large egg 1 tbsp. water and a stand mixer or bread machine (optional). Step 1. Make
the sourdough starter by stirring 2 tablespoons of active dry yeast, 1/2 tablespoon of sugar,
and the all-purpose flour into 2 cups of warm water. Cover with plastic wrap and let it
rest at room temperature for two days. Step 2. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of bread
flour, the remaining sugar, the salt, and the package of yeast. Stir in the milk and
butter; then stir in 1 1/2 cups of your starter. Step 3. Mix in the remaining bread flour gradually.
Add more if the dough is too sticky. Step 4. Turn the dough onto a floured board and
knead it for 10 minutes. You can also knead the dough in a stand mixer or bread machine.
Step 5. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning the dough around a few times
to coat. Cover with a dishcloth or plastic wrap and let it rise until it doubles in volume,
one to two hours. Step 6. Punch down the dough and then let it rest for 15 minutes before
shaping it into two loaves. Place them on a greased baking sheet dusted with coarsely
ground cornmeal and let rise until it doubles again, about another hour. Step 7. Preheat
oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Just before you're ready to put in the loaves, gently
make 1/4-inch-deep slashes on the top with a sharp knife. If it's a round loaf, make
two horizontal and two vertical slashes in a tic-tac-toe pattern. For an oblong loaf,
make a few horizontal slits or one long vertical one. Dipping the knife in cold water before
each slash keeps the dough from sticking to it. Step 8. Beat an egg with one tablespoon
of water and gently brush it over the top of the loaves. Bake until golden brown, about
30 minutes. Did you know The Ancient Egyptians made sourdough bread as early as 1500 BC.