Easy No Knead Sourdough Bread

This is a popular recipe that became well known when published by The New York Times magazine. If you want a no-fail recipe for sourdough bread, then this is it. Easy and tasty, this is my recipe of choice for sourdough bread. My version here is simple and plain. If you are a comprehensive person, you may appreciate the details in this Mother Earth News version.

One note about this recipe: You MUST use a cast iron pot and lid for this recipe. It is the only way to achieve the crusty outside and chewy inside.


Total time involved: About 1½ hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt
1-1/2 cups warm water
Cornmeal (optional)

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a large piece of parchment paper with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on paper and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with a cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron or enamel covered cast iron) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Lift dough by picking up the parchment paper and place in cast iron. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.