Are you are interested in making your own bubbly einkorn sourdough starter? With just a little bit of time and two ingredients, you can make your own right from the comfort of your own home!
Sourdough is now an integral part of my home. Anyone else? It can quickly become a routine that is not only enjoyable but beneficial for your home!
Baking bread, instead of buying it from the store leaves me satisfied in a way few homemade items do. There is just something marvelous about putting together flour and water in a way that nourishes my family.
However, making sourdough bread is certainly time-consuming! Can I hear an AMEN?!
Remembering to feed a sourdough starter on a regular basis can become quite a tedious task and eventually the inevitable might happen where you ruin your sourdough starter.
This poor einkorn sourdough starter was ruined shortly after the holidays due to neglect and problems with our water. Or at least that is my theory.
Pink mold indicates that your sourdough starter has gone evil! It is most likely filled with bad bacteria and there will be no way to preserve it.
You will also notice a horrid stench that is indistinguishable once you have smelled it. If you are not sure you have smelled a bad sourdough starter, chances are you have not. Once you have smelled it you know it's bad.
Creating your own einkorn sourdough starter does not need to only be as a result of a sourdough starter gone bad. You can also make it just for the experience or if you don't have someone nearby that can offer you part of theirs.
Ingredients
All you will need for this recipe is whole wheat einkorn flour (all-purpose works too) and filtered water. Filtered water is key here. Bad water can ruin a sourdough starter. We do not have a Berkey water filter, but it certainly is a goal of mine. Any filtered water will do.
- Einkorn Flour (whole wheat) (all-purpose) (small quantity)
- Water
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Day 1 - Mix ¼ cup water with whole wheat einkorn flour (you can substitute with all-purpose). Scrape sides. Cover and set aside for 24 hours.
Day 2 - Discard half of the sourdough starter. Add ¼ cup water and ½ cup whole wheat einkorn flour.
Day 3 - Discard ½ of the sourdough starter. Add ¼ cup filtered water and ½ cup einkorn flour. If you are using whole wheat einkorn, evaluate if the mixture is too thick and start reducing your flour by 1 tbsp.
Day 4 - Discard half of the sourdough starter. Add ¼ cup filtered water and ½ cup whole wheat einkorn flour. You should start seeing the starter doubling in size (if this is the first ferment you have had in your home, it may take longer).
Day 5 - Continue the same process. Discard half of the starter. Add ¼ cup filtered water and ½ cup whole wheat einkorn flour.
Day 6 and 7 - On days 6 and 7 you may want to increase the feedings to increase the sourdough's health. This means you will discard and feed it every 12 hours. You will know your sourdough is ready when in 4-12 hours it doubles in size and is bubbly.
Why use Einkorn?
Einkorn is a wonderful ancient grain that has remained free of GMOs and other processes that reduce its quality. This ancient grain is easier to digest and more gentle on your blood sugar. It is one of the few grains left that has not been hybridized by farmers.
It does have a different gluten structure, so you will need to play around with your favorite recipes if you are transitioning from all-purpose flour to einkorn.
All my sourdough recipes use einkorn flour, you can find all my fun recipes here.
Equipment
- Mason Jar (fancy alternative)
- Spatula
- Clean cloth cover
FAQ
Why do I have to discard half?
If you didn't you would have so much sourdough starter by day 4 that it would not fit in your mason jar! However even more important is that by discarding half you are feeding the growing colony the correct amount to ensure that it is forming the correct amount of yeast and bacteria.
How much water does einkorn absorb?
Einkorn is a denser flour therefore it absorbs less water than white flour would. If you are using whole wheat einkorn flour, it is even denser and therefore absorbs even less water. If you are using whole wheat einkorn flour on day 3 start evaluating if your sourdough starter has pancake-like consistency. If it is too thick reduce the amount of flour by 1 tbsp.
How do I keep up a sourdough starter?
If you keep your sourdough starter at room temperature it needs to be fed every 24 hours. Follow the same routine of discarding half and then a ratio of ¼ cup filtered water and ½ cup flour. You can also store your sourdough starter in the refrigerator and then feed it once a week.
Whole Wheat Einkorn Sourdough Starter
If you are interested in making your own bubbly einkorn sourdough starter? With just a little bit of time and two ingredients, you can make your own right from the comfort of your own home!
Ingredients
- Whole Wheat Einkorn Flour
- Filtered Water
Instructions
- Day 1 - Mix ¼ cup water with whole wheat einkorn flour (you can substitute with all-purpose). Scrape sides. Cover and set aside for 24 hours.
- Day 2 - Discard half of the sourdough starter. Add ¼ cup water and ½ cup whole wheat einkorn flour.
- Day 3 - Discard ½ of the sourdough starter. Add ¼ cup filtered water and ½ cup einkorn flour. If you are using whole wheat einkorn, evaluate if the mixture is too thick and start reducing your flour by 1 tbsp.
- Day 4 - Discard half of the sourdough starter. Add ¼ cup filtered water and ½ cup whole wheat einkorn flour. You should start seeing the starter doubling in size (if this is the first ferment you have had in your home, it may take longer).
- Day 5 - Continue the same process. Discard half of the starter. Add ¼ cup filtered water and ½ cup whole wheat einkorn flour.
- Day 6 and 7 - On days 6 and 7 you may want to increase the feedings to increase the sourdough's health. This means you will discard and feed it every 12 hours. You will know your sourdough is ready when in 4-12 hours it doubles in size and is bubbly.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1040Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 16mgCarbohydrates: 217gFiber: 36gSugar: 1gProtein: 45g
Online nutritional calculators are estimates only. Use your best judgement when consuming.
