The Sourdough School

BALM – Proven as one of the healthiest approaches to bread in the world.

Based in the walled gardens of Dr. Vanessa Kimbell's beautiful Victorian home in rural Northamptonshire, UK, we tutor individuals and train bakers and healthcare professionals in Baking as Lifestyle Medicine (BALM). Personalising bread to your lifestyle, gut microbiome, and unique genetics for optimal health—tailoring fermentation, fibre, and diversity so that your daily bread becomes the foundation of your health.

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STEP BY STEP RETARDED SOURDOUGH LESSONS

Tangier, sour, and more digestible this is the Master Recipe: Classic 20% Wholemeal Boule - Retarded - Mid Hydration

Welcome to our classic retarded lessons. This is a slightly more advanced technique than the Ambient method. It really requires you to be disciplined about timings and building your starter up and using a younger leaven to ensure success. It is the method that allows for really long fermentation, and can, for those who have sensitivity can be extended to 36 hours, without compromising the structure.

Please bake this formula 7 times before moving on to the next lesson

ambient boule

20% Wholemeal Classic Sourdough Boule – Retarded – Mid Hydration

How to refresh a White Sourdough Starter – Roller Milled Flour

Learn my leaven tricks for successful retarded sourdough…

Top tips on mixing for the Retarded Method

Autolyse Explained

Adding salt to your dough – retarded method

Sourdough stretch and fold technique explained

Preshape & Final Shape

How to Score & Bake Sourdough

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