Fermenting and Pickling in Jars

Gluten-Free Buckwheat Sourdough Starter

Make a gluten-free sourdough starter with buckwheat or another whole-grain gluten-free flour and water, fed daily until bubbly and active.

Gluten-free buckwheat sourdough starter

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Equal parts whole-grain gluten-free flour, such as buckwheat, and water, fed daily until bubbly. The start of gluten-free sourdough baking.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
CourseSide Dish
CuisineAmerican

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup whole-grain gluten-free flour (e.g. buckwheat; not a gluten-free bread flour mix)
  • 3 Tbsp filtered water (not chlorinated tap water)

Equipment

  • mason jars

Directions
 

  1. Add equal parts water and flour to a glass container (1 Tbsp each for a small batch; 1 cup each for a larger one).
  2. Stir with a fork to work in air. Cover with a tea towel and leave at room temperature.
  3. Stir with a fork twice a day. It is ready when it smells slightly sour and is bubbly, which takes 2 to 7 days depending on the flour.
  4. Wait to feed it until it bubbles. Then feed it water and flour equal to half its volume.

Notes

Ratio is approximate: buckwheat, oat and white rice flours absorb more water; brown rice and teff absorb less. Aim for thick but pourable. Recipes often need 1 to 2 cups active starter, so keep a larger batch going. Discard if pink/orange streaks or fuzzy mold appear.

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