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Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 09:09 PM Apr 2013

Sourdough biscuits

I found this recipe which I'm trying out. I've made a few modifications to it. The original recipe calls for 2 1/2 hours proofing. Well I like my biscuits in the morning, but I don't like waking up that early in the morning to get them. So I decided to go with an overnight proof in the refrigerator. I put a layer of cling wrap between the biscuits and the tea towel. My starter has 20% rye flour, so my version will have a bit of rye to it, say around 12% or so. Other than that I followed all the directions given. They are proofing now so I'll see how they bake up tomorrow.

Ingredients:

356g (12.5 oz.; 2 cups) sourdough starter; 100% hydration; refreshed 12 hours earlier, and left to develop at 76°F

76g (2.7 oz.; 1/3 cup) 50/50 mixture butter and lard (yep, lard: probably Cookie's first (only?) choice). Cut in to 1/2" cubes and chilled in the freezer for 15 minutes

300g (10.6 oz; 2-1/2 cups) AP flour

14g (1 tbls) sugar

7g (1 tsp) salt

I mixed the flour, sugar, salt, and butter/lard cubes together with my hand, squeezing the fat cubes between my thumb and fingers until they were all flattened and well coated with flour. I added the sourdough starter, mixed it in, and kneaded the dough in the bowl, until it formed a ball. The dough felt a little dry, but I didn't add any additional liquid.

I rested the dough, covered and chilled in the refrigerator, for 15 minutes.

I turned the ball out onto an unfloured dough board, and rolled it to about 1 inch thick, folded the dough in half, and rolled it out again. I repeated this about six times. Each time I rolled it out the dough got more flexible, and felt less dry. I was glad I hadn't added additonal liquid.

On the final roll-out I went to 1/2 inch thick, cut out 17, 2-1/4" biscuits, arranged them on a Silpat pad lined half-sheet pan, covered them with a dry tea towel, and returned them to the proofing box (76°F).

They proofed for 2 and 1/2 hours. They had expanded, but not doubled.

Baked in a 400°F oven for 14 minutes (light golden brown). They more than doubled with oven spring. Lifting the first one to the cooling rack I knew, from its light feel, I had a success.

http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/21536/sourdough-biscuits-trying-real-thing
5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Sourdough biscuits (Original Post) Major Nikon Apr 2013 OP
those sound good! Viva_La_Revolution Apr 2013 #1
The results I got weren't all that great Major Nikon Apr 2013 #2
but they tasted good? Viva_La_Revolution Apr 2013 #3
Yes, they just didn't rise as much as I would have liked Major Nikon Apr 2013 #4
I add baking powder for TheManInTheMac Apr 2013 #5

Viva_La_Revolution

(28,791 posts)
1. those sound good!
Fri Apr 5, 2013, 10:27 PM
Apr 2013

I just made pioneer sourdough cookies today, they taste a lot like animal crackers, except they're soft.

If I feed my starter and let it sit tonight, I can do biscuits tomorrow.

Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)
2. The results I got weren't all that great
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 10:09 PM
Apr 2013

I'm not sure if the fat in the dough didn't impede leavening. I'm going to work with this recipe a bit when I have time to experiment.

Viva_La_Revolution

(28,791 posts)
3. but they tasted good?
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 10:52 AM
Apr 2013

I've had to break down and add baking soda to a few recipes to get them to rise. My kitchen is a bit cold for rising the starter, but the oven in rise mode is a little too warm. I'm working on the timing to make sure it's at the right stage, once I get that figured out I'll be able to drop the soda (I hope).

Oh, and using a cheese grater for the butter or lard makes the whole job easier and less messy

Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)
4. Yes, they just didn't rise as much as I would have liked
Sun Apr 7, 2013, 01:49 PM
Apr 2013

I don't think the recipe has enough hydration so I'm going to add a small amount of water next time. I had to roll out the dough several times (per the directions) to make things work and that's generally bad for biscuits. Ideally you only want to roll the dough out once and then cut your biscuits.

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