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Bonnie Ohara Bread Baking for Beginners - Question re: Alchemy Sourdough Recipe

Breadinthe416's picture
Breadinthe416

Bonnie Ohara Bread Baking for Beginners - Question re: Alchemy Sourdough Recipe

I'm hoping someone here has worked there way through Bread Baking for Beginners and can answer a question about the Alchemy Sourdough recipe at the very end of the book.

The recipe calls for a Starter and a "Second Build". The starter is prepared 12 hours before the dough is mixed. The starter contains 50 grams mature starter; 75 grams whole wheat flour; 25 grams rye flour and 100 grams water.

The "second build" is prepared 4 hours before mixing the dough. The "second build" contains 100 grams mature starter, 75 grams whole wheat flour, 25 grams rye flour and 100 grams water.

Here is where I'm confused. The recipe calls for the starter AND the second build to be added to the dough ingredients. Given that the combined amount of the starter and second build is over 550 grams, it seems excessive to add this amount to a dough recipe that only contains 800 total grams of flour. 

Am I reading this recipe correctly? Is the recipe calling for 250 grams of starter AND 300 grams of "second build" to be added to the dough? Or is the recipe asking you to make the starter the night before, then make the second build a few hours before mixing the dough, and ONLY adding the second build to the dough?

Anyone here familiar with this recipe and can share their insight?

Ali Brick's picture
Ali Brick

Hello! I'm finishing Bonnie Ohara's book as well and I have the exact same question as you about the starter and the second build. Were you able to find the answer? 

Thank you!

Messymir's picture
Messymir

Hi there were either of you able to figure it out? I was confused as well.