Best Rye Sourdough Bread Recipes

ARTISAN SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Sourdough Version
• In a mixing bowl, mix the starter into the water. Add the molasses, all the seeds and orange zest.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flours and salt.
• Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet using a dough whisk or spoon until the flour is well incorporated. Cover with plastic and let rest for 15 minutes. After about 15 minutes, mix again for a minute or two. Again let rest for 15 minutes and mix one more time as before. Now cover the bowl with plastic and let sit at room temperature for roughly 12-14 hours.
• Instant Yeast Version
• The only difference is don't use sourdough starter and instead mix the instant yeast into the dry ingredients before combining with the wet ingredients.
• Both Versions
• After the long 12-14 hour proof, stretch and fold the dough and shape into boule or batard (round or oblong) shape for baking. (If you didn't follow that, I'm afraid you're doomed to watch the video.) Cover again with plastic and let rest 15 minutes before putting in a proofing basket for the final rise. If you don't have a proofing basket, line a bowl with a well floured kitchen towel and put the dough in there for the final rise. The final rise should last somewhere between 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Keep the dough covered with plastic to prevent it from drying out.
• Preheat your oven to 475 F a half hour before baking.
• Score the dough with a razor or sharp serrated knife and bake until the internal temp is about 200 F.
• Let cool completely before eating.

RYE SOURDOUGH BREAD

Steps:

• Day 1: To begin your starter, mix 50g of the flour with 50g tepid water in a jar or, better still, a plastic container. Make sure all the flour is incorporated and leave, covered with a tea towel, at room temperature for 24 hrs.
• Days 2, 3, 4 & 5 : Mix 25g flour with 25g tepid water and stir into yesterday's mixture. Make sure all the flour is incorporated and leave, covered with a tea towel, at room temperature for 24 hrs.
• Day 6: The mix should be really bubbly and giving off a strong smell of alcohol. A teaspoonful of the starter should float in warm water if ready. If not, continue adding 25g flour and 25g tepid water into the mixture daily until it becomes active.If your jar is becoming full, spoon half the mix out of the jar and continue. You now have rye starter, which is a malty flavoured base to sourdough bread. Keep it in the fridge (it will stay dormant) and 12 hrs before you want to use it, spoon half of it off and feed it with 100g flour and 100g water. Leave, covered, at room temperature.
• Tip 100g of the starter into a bowl and add 400g of tepid water. Whisk or rub the two together with your hands, don't worry if there are a few lumps. Add the flour and bring together (with a spatula or your hand) into a thick, sticky dough, making sure all the flour is mixed in, including any dry bits on the sides of the bowl. Cover with a damp tea towel and leave at room temperature for 2 hrs.
• Work the salt into the dough then leave, covered, for another 2 hrs.
• Heavily butter a 900g loaf tin. Dust the work surface with more rye flour, then scrape all the dough out. Mould the dough into a block roughly the same size as the tin and sit it in the tin. Press the dough down so it fills it completely and scatter the top generously with more flour. Leave the loaf out, uncovered, for 2 hrs until it's risen by about a quarter and gone craggy on the top, or leave it in the fridge, uncovered, overnight. This will give it an even deeper flavour.
• Heat the oven to 230/210C fan/gas 8 with a shelf in the middle of the oven and a shelf below with a roasting tray on it. Put the loaf on the middle tray and carefully pour a small glass of water into the roasting tray. Cook for 50-55 mins until hollow sounding when tapped. (The middle of the loaf will read 98C on a digital thermometer when ready.) Remove the tin and leave to cool on a wire rack for at least 4 hrs. Will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container.

GERMAN COUNTRY STYLE SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD WITH CARAWAY SEEDS

Steps:

• To make the sourdough Sponge.
• Mix all the ingredients together to make a smooth paste, cover with a tea towel and leave to ferment overnight at room temperature, for between 8 to 12 hours.
• To make the bread.
• When you are ready to make the bread, pour the water into the bucket, followed by all of the sourdough sponge and then add the caraway seeds.
• The add in this order: rye flour, salt, sugar and then the white bread flour.
• Finally sprinkle the dried yeast over the top and fit the bucket into the bread machine/maker.
• Set to the rapid wholemeal setting, for a medium sized loaf (750g) with the crust setting of your choice.
• Once the bread has cooked - take it carefully out of the bucket and leave to cool on a wire cooling rack. Remove the paddle if it is still in the bread before slicing.
• Serve with soups, hams, cold meats, cheese and pickles or make sandwiches of your choice.

CRUSTY SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Combine starter, rye flour, and one cup of the water in a large bowl; stir to blend; if you'd like an extra-sour flavor, cover mixture with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place 6-24 hours (I let mine go six hours) until bubbly and sour, even boozy, smelling.
• Combine yeast and remaining water in small bowl; let stand about 5 minutes until foamy; stir into sourdough mixture; add whole-wheat flour, 1 3/4 cups of the all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, and caraway seeds; stir (in KitchenAid stand mixer on low speed) until dough comes together.
• Knead 9-10 minutes (in KitchenAid stand mixer on speed #2) until dough is smooth and springy; add more all-purpose flour, a tablespoon or two at a time during the kneading process as necessary to reduce excess stickiness (this particular dough will remain somewhat sticky); cover and let rise about 1 - 1 1/2 hours in a warm place until doubled.
• Punch down dough and knead a few strokes to release air; shape into a round loaf and place on a baking stone or a greasing baking sheet; cover loaf lightly and allow to rise about 30 minutes until almost doubled.
• Cut a couple small slashes about 3/4" deep on top of loaf; spray loaf with water and bake at 425° for 9 minutes, spraying loaf after 3, 6, and 9 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 400° and bake another 20-25 minutes until loaf is browned and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom; transfer finished loaf to cooling rack.
• NOTE: If you opt to let your starter and rye combination stand for several hours, you can get by without the additional yeast ~ Just plan on increased rising times.

SOURDOUGH STARTER AND SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Make the starter:.
• Put the flour into a large bowl and stir in yeast. Make a well, pour in the water and mix.
• Cover tightly and leave at room temperature for 2 days. Or you could leave the starter in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Make the sponge:.
• Put the rye flour into a large bowl, add 2 cups of sourdough starter and the water, and stir to mix. Cover tightly and leave at room temperature for 8 hours or chill in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• Make the bread:.
• Put the flour into a bowl, add the sponge mixture , yeast, measured water, caraway seeds(if using), and salt, and mix to a soft and slightly sticky dough.
• Turn the dough into a large ungreased bowl, sprinkle the top with flour, cover loosely with oiled plastic wrap. Leave in a warm place to rise for about 2 hours, until doubled in size.
• Lightly sprinkle 2 baking sheets with cornmeal. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and punch down with your fist. Knead for 3-4 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Halve the dough and form each half into a round. Score the tops with a sharp knife.
• Place on the baking sheets, cover loosely with oiled plastic wrap, and leave in a warm place to rise for 45 minutes or until they have doubled in size.
• Place loaves in a 425*F. oven. Fill a roasting pan with boiling water and place at the bottom of the oven. Bake the loaves for about 35 minutes, until they are lightly browned. Tap the bottoms to see if the loaves are cooked; they should sound hollow. Leave to cool on wire racks. Enjoy!

SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Put all ingredients in the bread machine in the order specified by your machine's manufacturer.
• Set on the dough setting. Let it do it's thing, checking after 10 minutes or so to see if you need to adjust the liquid or flour.
• Let rise, take out and form as desired.
• Let rise again, and heat your oven to 350.
• Slash and bake for 15 minutes, turn and bake another 15 minutes. Test for doneness. I use an instant read thermometer, and shoot for 195-200 degrees.
• Let cool completely, slice and enjoy!

SOURDOUGH ONION RYE BREAD

Steps:

• To proof your starter, feed it with equal parts of flour and water, cover loosely and let it sit overnight or up to 12 hours (longer proof=sourer flavor).
• At this point, measure out your 2 cups of starter into mixing bowl and proceed with recipe.
• Saute onions in olive oil until they become translucent.
• Remove from heat and add butter, water and salt.
• Cool to lukewarm (85 degrees F) and stir into starter.
• Add the rye flour and mix well.
• Add the white flour gradually, until it is too stiff to mix by hand.
• Turn onto a floured surface and knead in enough remaining flour until dough is satiny.
• Shape into an elongate loaf.
• Place on baking sheet and let rise, covered, in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours, or until about doubled in bulk (rising time will vary according to your starter, but it takes longer than breads made with commercial yeast).
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Make diagonal slashes in top of loaf with a razor blade or very sharp knife.
• Bake for 40 to 50 minutes.
• Remove from baking sheet and cool on wire rack.
• This bread could also be made using the dough cycle of your bread machine.

SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD WITH CARAWAY

Steps:

• Mix sourdough starter with warm water with a whisk until thoroughly combined.
• Add rye flour a little bit at a time, incorporating well before each addition.
• Add bread flour in the same way, first in the mixing bowl and then turned out on to a floured surface while kneading, until you get a uniformly elastic ball of dough that is tacky but not sticky. This may take about 10 minutes.
• Make a hole into the center of the dough and add the salt and caraway seed, and continue kneading another 5 minutes or so, until the seeds are dispersed throughout the bread dough.
• Coat a bowl with a thin layer of canola oil, add the dough and roll the dough around until all sides are covered with oil. Cover well, and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Punch down dough, cut in half and form loaves.
• Leave out on a warm counter, covered, to rise until doubled in size. The length of time will depend on the vigor of your starter, but this may take a few hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bake for 30 - 35 minutes, bread will appear lightly browned.
• Cool on racks.
• Freezes well.

RYE SOURDOUGH STARTER AND BREAD

Steps:

• Starter:.
• Day 1: In a 1 quart jar with a lid mix 100 g rye flour with 100 ml lukewarm water. Stir well to completely mix. Don't mind if it seems not to be enough water and the dough is sticky. Just mix well to have a homogenous dough.
• Close the lid of the jar loosely and let stand for 24 hours at room temperature, maybe not in the coolest room of the house --.
• Day 2: Stir the starter well, close the lid again and let stand for another 24 hours.
• Day 3: Stir in 100 g finely ground whole rye flour and 100 ml lukewarm water, cover again and let stand for another 24 hours.
• Open the jar and check the smell: DON'T stick your nose into the jar! I did that with my first attempt and nearly burnt off my mucosa with the cloud of acetic acid that evaporated from the vinegar starter I produced -- So, open the jar and carefully check the smell. If it doesn't sting but smell pleasantly sour, proceed. The colour of the starter should be greyish brown.
• Bread:.
• Place the flour in a large bowl, make a well and fill the sourdough starter into the well. Hold back about 2 tablespoons of the starter, put it into a glass jar, tightly close the lid and keep the jar in the refridgerator. It will not rise while in the fridge nor produce gas, so don't be afraid of tightening the lid.
• Mix the starter with some of the flour, then add the salt and water and knead for about 15 minutes. The dough is very heavy, so most machines give in and collaps. I always kneaded by hand on a floured surface until the dough was smooth.
• Form a ball and dust with flour, cover and let rest for 2 hours.
• On a dusted surface, knead lightly, form an oval loaf, cover and let rest for another hour.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees Celsius (220 fan assisted).
• Place bread on a baking tray layered with nonstick parchment paper, prick bread with a fork in a regular pattern all over and brush with water.
• Place an ovenproof bowl with hot water on the bottom of the oven, then slip the baking tray into the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes reduce heat to 200 degrees Celsius (180 fan assisted), continue baking for 30 minutes.
• Put off the oven after 30 minutes, but don't open yet. Let the bread rest.
• for another 15 minutes in the hot oven.
• Take it out and knock at the bottom of the bread. It should sound hollow.
• Let completely cool on a wire rack.
• You need not keep the bread in the fridge.
• If you use the starter for the first time, it works better if you add some yeast to the bread dough because the fresh starter is not very strong.
• The starter which you hold back will be strong enough without adding yeast if you feed it again for 3 days like described above.

POLISH SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD

Steps:

• The night before making the bread, in a medium sized mixing bowl, dissolve one packet of yeast and the sugar in 2 cups of water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in the rye flour until the mixture is smooth. Cover and let stand overnight.
• The next day, dissolve the remaining package of yeast in the buttermilk. Add the rye flour mixture, the baking soda, the salt, 4 cups of the bread flour and stir to combine. Add the remaining 4 cups of bread flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition (you may not need to add all of the flour). When the dough has become a smooth and coherent mass, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle the caraway seeds on the dough and knead them in until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
• Lightly oil a large mixing bowl. Place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until the volume has doubled.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into three pieces. Form each piece into a loaf and place in 3 lightly greased 9x5 inch bread pans. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 1 hour.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 35 minutes or until the bottom of the loaves sound hollow when tapped.

CZECH SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD [ŠUMAVA] IN BREAD MACHINE

Steps:

• Add ingredients according to your bread machine manual and press the dough cycle. The dough will need to rise, up to 24 hours, in the bread machine until doubles in size. You can then bake it, in your bread machine, for one hour.

LITHUANIAN BALTIC RYE BREAD (SOURDOUGH)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F degrees.
• Proof the yeast in the lukewarm water with the sugar.
• Bring the coffee to a boil, turn off the heat, and stir in the chocolate to let it melt. Add the molasses and stir again. Let cool until lukewarm.
• Blend together the yeast mixture, the coffee mixture and the sourdough starter. Add the caraway seeds, salt, ground bran cereal and stir in the flour, cup by cup.
• When you have a dough that you can knead, place it on a lightly floured (all purpose flour) work surface, kneading until elastic and shiny.
• Place in a large buttered bowl, cover with a towel and let stand in a warm place to rise until doubled in bulk. This should take about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Take the dough out again and punch down a couple of times. Divide into 2 equal pieces, shape these into two round loaves and place on a buttered baking sheet. Cover with a towel and let stand in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
• Bake about 50 to 55 minutes or until brown and the breads sound hollow when tapped with your finger. Cool the breads wrapped in a towel. Two loaves. Can be frozen.
• Breads Of The World.

UNBEETABLE SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD

Steps:

• The night before combine the ingredients for sponge, cover lightly with plastic wrap and allow to stand in a draft free place overnight. The sponge should have bubbled and have a pleasant sour odor.
• The next morning, stir down and divide the sponge. For the onion rye, warm the olive oil in a small pan and cook the green onions until wilted. Set aside and allow to cool.
• Proof the yeast in 1/2 cup warm water with sugar for 5 minutes or until bubbly. Add the proofed yeast to 1 portion of the sponge along with onions, butter, milk powder, cocoa, salt and rye flour; add the all-purpose flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough forms a ball and leaves sides of bowl. The dough will be lightly tacky but manageable with floured hands.
• Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Place in a large bowl that has been lightly greased with olive oil, turning to coat, cover loosely with a damp cloth and allow to rise until double, approximately 1 hour.
• For bread 2, proof the yeast in 2 tablespoons warm water with sugar for 5 minutes or until bubbly. To puree the beets add them with reserved liquid to a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
• Add the proofed yeast to sponge along with beets, dill weed, dill seed, butter, milk powder, salt, food coloring and rye flour. Add the the all-purpose flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough forms ball and leaves the sides of the bowl. The dough will be lightly tacky but manageable with floured hands.
• Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Place in a large bowl that has been lightly greased with olive oil, turning to coat, cover loosely with a damp cloth and allow to rise until double, approximately 1 hour.
• To make the bread, punch down each of the doughs and knead lightly. Divide each into 2 equal portions. There will be a total of 2 "onion" and 2 "beet".
• Shape each portion into a 10 inch rope. Using 1 of each color tightly braid ropes and when braided twist lightly. With dampened fingers, seal the dough where the colors join. Turn ends under and place in loaf pans that have been lightly oiled.
• Cover with towel and allow to rise until double. The second rise took about 45 minutes. Drizzle the tops of the loaves with olive oil and bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until done. Tap the top of the loaf and if it sounds hallow it is baked through.
• Remove from pans and place on wire rack; allow to cool, slice and enjoy.

POLISH SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD

Steps:

• The night before making the bread, in a medium-sized mixing bowl, dissolve one packet of yeast and the sugar in 2 cups of water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in the rye flour until the mixture is smooth. Add the onion slice. Cover and let stand overnight.
• The next day, dissolve the remaining package of yeast in the buttermilk. Add the rye flour mixture, baking soda, salt, 4 cups of the bread flour and stir to combine.
• Add the remaining 4 cups of bread flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition (you may not need to add all the flour).
• When the dough has become a smooth and coherent mass, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle the caraway seeds on the dough and knead them in until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
• Lightly oil a large mixing bowl. Place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour until the volume has doubled.
• Preheat over to 350 degrees F.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into three pieces. Form each piece into a loaf and place in 3 lightly greased 9x5 inch bread pans. Cover and let rise until nearly double, about 1 hour.
• Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes 0r until the loaves sound hollow when tapped.

SOURDOUGH BREAD: 100% SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD

Steps:

• The day before making the dough, make the rye starter. Mix together the barm and rye flour in a bowl, adding only enough water to form a ball. It should be firm and a little tacky but not sticky or spongelike. Work quickly. It is not necessary to develop the gluten, only to hydrate all the flour and form a shaggy but firm dough. Lightly oil a bowl and transfer the starter to the bowl, rolling it around to coat it lightly with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
• Ferment at room temperature for 4 hours or longer, or until the dough doubles in size (it will become softer and stickier as it rises). Refrigerate overnight.
• Also on the day before making the final dough, make the soaker. Combine the coarse rye flour and water in a bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature overnight.
• The following day, remove the rye starter from the refrigerator 1 hour before making the dough. Cut the starter into about 10 small pieces with a pastry scraper or serrated knife. Mist with spray oil, cover the pieces with a towel or plastic wrap, and let sit for 1 hour to take off the chill.
• To make the final dough, stir together the rye flour, salt, and seeds in a 4-quart mixing bowl (or in the bowl of an electric mixer). Add the soaker and the starter pieces. With a large metal spoon, stir in enough lukewarm water to bring everything together to form a ball (or mix on low speed with the paddle attachment).
• Sprinkle rye flour on the counter and transfer the dough to the counter. Sprinkle the dough with more rye flour and gently knead the dough until all the pieces of starter are assimilated into the dough and the dough forms a very tacky ball (or mix on medium speed with the dough hook). This will take 5 to 6 minutes by hand (4 minutes by machine). Add flour as needed (or small amounts of water if the dough is tight). Let the dough rest on the counter for 5 minutes, and then give it a few more turns to complete the kneading. It should register 77° to 81°F. (This dough will not make a good windowpane when stretched because of the low gluten content.) Lightly oil a large bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl, rolling it around to coat it with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
• Ferment for approximately 4 hours, or until the dough nearly doubles in size.
• Sprinkle rye flour on the counter and transfer the dough to the counter, being careful to degas it as little as possible. Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces, sprinkle them with rye flour, and gently shape them into bâtards. Line a sheet pan with baking parchment and sprinkle the parchment with coarse rye flour, semolina flour, or cornmeal. Place the loaves on the pan at least 4 inches apart. Mist the dough with spray oil and cover loosely with plastic wrap.
• Either proof the dough for 2 hours at room temperature or slip the entire pan into a food-grade plastic bag and immediately refrigerate overnight. If you are holding the dough overnight, remove the pan from the refrigerator 4 hours before baking and proof the dough at room temperature, or until about 1 1/2 times its original size. It will have spread sideways as well as upward.
• Prepare the oven for hearth baking as described on pages 91-94, making sure to have a steam pan in place. Preheat the oven to 500°F. Remove the pan from the bag or lift off the plastic, and let the dough sit exposed for 5 minutes, then score it.
• If you are baking on a stone, slide the parchment and dough onto the back of a sheet pan or onto a peel and then transfer it to the stone (or bake the bread directly in the sheet pan on which it was rising). Pour 1 cup hot water into the steam pan and close the door. After 30 seconds, mist the oven walls with water and close the door. Repeat twice more at 30-second intervals. After the final spray, lower the oven setting to 425°F and bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the loaves 180 degrees, if necessary, for even baking and continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until done. The internal temperature should register approximately 200°F and the crust should be hard and somewhat coarse (it will soften as the bread cools).
• Transfer the breads to a rack and let them cool for at least 1 hour before slicing or serving.
• Lean, standard dough; indirect method; wild yeast
• Day 1: 4 to 5 hours firm rye starter and soaker
• Day 2: 1 hour to de-chill starter; 6 minutes mixing; 6 hours fermentation, shaping, and proofing; 25 to 30 minutes baking
• The bread is best when made with a variety of grinds, from fine white rye to coarse pumpernickel or even rye chops (cracked rye kernels). This version uses a blend and also utilizes the soaker method to condition the grain and develop enzyme activity.
• If you make rye bread regularly, you can keep a rye barm on hand in addition to your regular barm. Otherwise, you can use your regular barm starter and turn it into a rye starter, but it will contain a proportion of wheat. To make a pure rye-only starter, consult the Commentary on page 229.
• Allow 3 days to make this bread (or start early on the second day to bake it around dinnertime). Because it is low in gluten, the bread will have a fairly tight crumb, not large and irregular as with standard hearth breads. The dough is slightly softer than French bread, but not as wet as ciabatta and other rustic doughs. This added hydration provides some physical leavening (steam) in support of the biological (wild-yeast) leavening provided by the starter. The result is a relatively dense loaf with a long shelf life.
• This same formula also can be used for making spelt bread, another wheat relative that is lower in gluten (mainly it is lower in gliaden, which is the offensive half of gluten to those with sensitivities). Just substitute spelt for rye and follow the same directions.
• As always with rye breads, the use of caraway, anise, or other seeds is optional. This bread is delicious with or without them.
• 100% Sourdough Rye Bread %
• (FIRM RYE STARTER)
• Barm: 77.8%
• White rye flour: 100%
• Water (approx.): 44.4%
• Total: 222.2%
• (SOAKER)
• Coarse rye flour: 100%
• Water: 200%
• Total: 300%
• (FINAL DOUGH)
• White rye flour: 100%
• Firm rye starter: 74.1%
• Soaker: 44.4%
• Salt: 2.8%
• Caraway seeds: 3.7%
• Water (approx.): 51.9%
• Total 276.9

RYE SOURDOUGH BREAD

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine yeast and the warm water; let stand until yeast is dissolved and bubbles form on the surface, about 5 minutes.
• Heat buttermilk in a small saucepan over medium heat until it is warm to the touch, and add to yeast mixture. Using a wooden spoon, gradually stir 3 cups flour into yeast mixture until it is combined but mixture is still soupy. Cover with a kitchen towel; let stand in a warm place 8 to 12 hours.
• Add 1 cup flour to mixture, and let stand, covered, 12 hours more.
• Add 5 cups flour and the salt, and stir until mixture just comes together. Turn out onto a well-floured work surface, and knead 5 minutes, adding more flour as necessary; the dough will be very sticky. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until it is doubled, about 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and lightly dust parchment with flour. Using floured hands, punch down dough and turn out onto a lightly floured work surface. Form into a large round loaf. Place on prepared baking sheet, and cover with a damp kitchen towel; let rise until dough is doubled and beginning to crack on the surface, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Bake until loaf is nicely golden and makes a hollow sound when tapped on the bottom, about 60 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool before serving.

UNBEETABLE SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD

Steps:

• The night before combine the ingredients for sponge, cover lightly with plastic wrap and allow to stand in a draft free place overnight. The sponge should have bubbled and have a pleasant sour odor.
• The next morning, stir down and divide the sponge. For the onion rye, warm the olive oil in a small pan and cook the green onions until wilted. Set aside and allow to cool.
• Proof the yeast in 1/2 cup warm water with sugar for 5 minutes or until bubbly. Add the proofed yeast to 1 portion of the sponge along with onions, butter, milk powder, cocoa, salt and rye flour; add the all-purpose flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough forms a ball and leaves sides of bowl. The dough will be lightly tacky but manageable with floured hands.
• Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Place in a large bowl that has been lightly greased with olive oil, turning to coat, cover loosely with a damp cloth and allow to rise until double, approximately 1 hour.
• For bread 2, proof the yeast in 2 tablespoons warm water with sugar for 5 minutes or until bubbly. To puree the beets add them with reserved liquid to a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
• Add the proofed yeast to sponge along with beets, dill weed, dill seed, butter, milk powder, salt, food coloring and rye flour. Add the the all-purpose flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough forms ball and leaves the sides of the bowl. The dough will be lightly tacky but manageable with floured hands.
• Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Place in a large bowl that has been lightly greased with olive oil, turning to coat, cover loosely with a damp cloth and allow to rise until double, approximately 1 hour.
• To make the bread, punch down each of the doughs and knead lightly. Divide each into 2 equal portions. There will be a total of 2 "onion" and 2 "beet".
• Shape each portion into a 10 inch rope. Using 1 of each color tightly braid ropes and when braided twist lightly. With dampened fingers, seal the dough where the colors join. Turn ends under and place in loaf pans that have been lightly oiled.
• Cover with towel and allow to rise until double. The second rise took about 45 minutes. Drizzle the tops of the loaves with olive oil and bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until done. Tap the top of the loaf and if it sounds hallow it is baked through.
• Remove from pans and place on wire rack; allow to cool, slice and enjoy.