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How to Make Sour Rye Starter

Print Recipe
Total Time 5 days

Ingredients
  

  • You only need a handful of simple ingredients:
  • 1 cup medium or dark rye flour
  • 3 cups boiled and cooled water
  • 3-4 garlic cloves lightly crushed
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3 allspice berries
  • 10 black peppercorns
  • Optional: a few dried mushrooms for extra depth

Instructions
 

  • Step 1 – Prepare Your Jar. Use a large glass jar. Wash it well with hot water and soap. If you want to be extra careful, rinse it with boiling water to sterilize. Clean jar = good fermentation.
  • Step 2 – Mix the Flour and Water. Make sure your water has been boiled and completely cooled to room temperature. If it’s too hot, it will kill the natural bacteria that make fermentation happen. In the jar, whisk together the rye flour and water until smooth. Try to break up any lumps.
  • Step 3 – Add the Garlic and Spices. Add crushed garlic cloves, bay leaves, allspice berries, peppercorns, and optional dried mushrooms. The garlic should be lightly crushed but not minced. You want flavor, not pulp.
  • Step 4 – Let It Ferment. Cover the jar loosely. Do not seal it tightly. Fermentation produces gas, and it needs room to breathe.
  • Place the jar at room temperature in a dry spot away from direct sunlight.
  • Let it sit for about 5 days.
  • Stir it once a day and check on it. You should start seeing tiny bubbles after a couple of days. The smell will slowly change from raw flour to pleasantly sour and slightly garlicky. That’s exactly what you want.