I am still determined to master sourdough bread. So far I've only gotten one good starter and my bread was good but could be better.
I was intrigued when I heard about a shortcut to sourdough. I didn't know how that was possible and most of all how it would taste, to me the most important part.
It took some searching but I found the Platinum Instant Sourdough Packets. The idea is that a sourdough starter does not have to be maintained to do sourdough bakes. The recipe on the Platinum website is from BakeFromScratch for a Shortcut Sourdough Boule. I made a rustic sourdough bread not too long ago, my first and only time with a "good" starter, which I was not able to maintain (groan). I loved the flavor and wanted more sourdough bread, so shortcut sourdough boule here we go....
The recipe takes 5 hours of rise time, not all at once, and bakes in 40 to 45 minutes.
You will need at least a 4L container for the rise time. I used my 2L and nearly had a mess in the refrigerator during the second rise. Speaking of rise time, the first rise is in a draft-free place for 2 hours followed by 2 hours in the refrigerator plus another hour after shaping. Am I a bread dork for squealing in delight at seeing the dough rise?! Probably.
To bake the bread, I used the King Arthur Baking Cloche Bread Baker and didn't preheat it.