my first SD loaf is a failure... but tastes great
i hadn't baked my first sourdough yet, but i've been feeding my starter and using discards for pancakes and scones. and i found a recipe for discarded starter on KA that i decided to go for. since i'm new to sourdough, i failed to register that the recipe didn't include hydration, and it only occurred to me after even after adding a little extra flour the dough stayed fairly slack and sticky. i added enough flour (white spelt, btw) that i got nervous and decided loaf 1 would probably just be a failure.
it didn't rise much overnight or while proofing - hardly at all - and there was less of it because it was so sticky that i couldn't get it off my hands or the bowl. i put it in a small loaf pan (it's supposed to be a boule, but there wasn't enough), and it didn't fill it to the bottom. since it was so short, i didn't think of slashing it.
it smelled delicious while cooking, and when i got it to 190 on one side and 205 on the other side (it wasn't even after it spread) and took it out. it didn't brown, and the "crust" isn't very crusty - it's a little like harder bread - but surprisingly to me, the inside is very good with a decent crumb (not as dense as it looks in the pic), and the taste is wonderful. nice and sour and full. after sneaking a corner, i couldn't wait till it was cool - i cut a piece and had it with extra sharp cheddar.
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