I’ve been gluten-free since before it was a thing… so a really long time. I’ve learned that the secret to delicious gluten-free bread is a good sourdough starter. Here are my favorite gluten-free sourdough recipes.
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A Quick Note About flour
The type of flour and flour mix makes a huge difference in the flavor of gluten-free baking. Starches and rice flour both result in really dry baked goods. Dark buckwheat and teff are earthy and dense. Here is some general advice for finding a flour that works for you:
Not all types of flour are readily available in all grocery stores. I’m lucky enough to buy my favorite flours from a local miller. Asian grocers usually have cheap tapioca starch. African grocers often have sorghum flour and teff flour. You can also find flour mixes online.
A GF diet based on store-bought white bread or white rice flour is not gut-healthy. Try to bake with at least 50% whole grain flour, which will provide flavor and fiber.
Gluten-free sourdough starters need to be continuously fed the same type of flour to be really vigorous. If you haven’t already started a sourdough starter, I recommend teff or light buckwheat flour, which both ferment very quickly.
My favorite flour is GF oat flour because oats are naturally a bit sticky. However, avoid raw oat flour which is very bitter.
There are a bunch of AMAZING-looking bread recipes from people that aren’t GF but decided to convert their typical bread recipe into a GF one. These recipes don’t have eggs, xanthan gum, or other binders… and they don’t work out. If the pictures look too good to be true, then it probably is…
I’m part of a few blogger forums, so I can tell you the dirty secret of the blogging world. A lot of bloggers use AI written content with stock images. That might work for a pumpkin soup recipe, but it doesn’t work with gluten-free bread. I recommend sticking with recipes that you can trust.
Here are my favorite recipes. They are 100% legitimate gluten-free sourdough recipes that are wholly delicious!
This gluten-free sourdough bread is my go-to for all our bread needs. It is delicious toasted at breakfast, or turned into sandwiches for lunch.
2. Sourdough Pizza
Where there is bread… there is PIZZA! I have several pizza recipes on my site. My favorite is a soft, chewy, psyllium husk crust. The flavor is SO good and won’t go stale like typical GF pizzas. Best of all, it can stand up to a ton of toppings.
I also have a gluten-free thin crust pizza dough that is just as strong and delicious. If you’re looking for a traditional pizza crust, then it’s a good option.
3. Dinner Rolls
This gluten-free sourdough roll recipe took me years to perfect. And it is AMAZING. It’s delicious as a dinner roll and strong enough for hot dogs and hamburgers. Make a double batch and stash these in the freezer because you’ll never want to buy tasteless store-bought buns again!
4. Rustic Boule
I always struggle to decide which loaf of bread I prefer, this one or the sandwich loaf (above). This GF sourdough bread is so delicious. It’s definitely the favorite with non-GF eaters. Perfect for serving at dinner parties or fancy brunches.
Best of all it is a gluten-free and vegan bread!
5. Sourdough Cinnamon Buns
Gluten-free sourdough cinnamon rolls could easily have been #1 on my list… but I felt like I had to start with a few bread recipes, first. Sticky, sweet, and perfect. Even my wheat-eating brother-in-law will easily polish off a plate of these!
6. Chocolate Cake
Sourdough starter is really the secret behind so many delicious baked goods. Unlike wheat recipes, fermenting the batter won’t result in bread-like gluten. All you get is delicious flavor. This chocolate cake is a personal favorite.
7. Cobbler
My sourdough cobbler recipe is one of the most popular recipes on Fermenting For Foodies. That’s mostly because it made the rounds in the gluten-sourdough community. I’m glad it worked out with wheat flour because I’ve personally never tried it! Using a gluten-free sourdough starter is quick, easy, and delicious.
8. Bagels
My daughter wanted bagels, so we created a sourdough bagel recipe together. She loves them so much, that we make them on a nearly monthly basis. Our bagels are often turned into weird and interesting shapes… because who wouldn’t want to eat a butterfly-shaped bagel?
9. Pancakes
I make and use a lot of sourdough starter… however, sometimes it catches up on me. Sourdough pancakes are a great way to use up a bit of extra starter. It’s perfect for a quick breakfast. Best of all, I can leave my tween to flip pancakes while I shower and get ready for the day.
10. Waffles
We make waffles every Sunday morning. Crispy, buttery, and delicious, this sourdough waffle recipe can be served with savory or sweet toppings.
Do you have a favorite gluten-free sourdough recipe to share? Post in the comments section!
What gluten-free flours can I use for sourdough? There are various gluten-free flours that can be used for sourdough baking. Popular options include brown rice flour, buckwheat flour, sorghum flour, millet flour, and tapioca flour. Each flour adds its unique flavor and texture to the final bread.
Your bread will not rise if your yeast or baking powder has expired. A dense loaf could also be the result of not measuring your ingredients accurately. Weight measurements are best (I have to update my recipes). Otherwise scoop the flour into your measuring cup and level without shaking or packing the flour down.
Sourdough is a low-gluten bread. It also contains lower levels of fructans, another substance that can cause unpleasant digestive symptoms in some people. This can make sourdough a better option for people with IBS, gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity.
Once established, you can store your starter in the refrigerator. Regular Feeding Instructions: if your starter is at room temperature, you will want to feed it every day so it doesn't get too hungry. You will continue with the 100% hydration feedings.
The best flour blend for creating a new sourdough starter is 50% whole-meal flour (whole wheat or whole rye) and 50% bread flour or all-purpose flour. I recommend a 50/50 mix of whole wheat flour and bread flour.
* Add more filtered water if necessary -- if the starter is too thick, it cannot bubble and grow. Once it seems to have come alive, continue feeding the starter 2 times a day in the same way (discard + add flour and water).
However, these alternative flours do not have the same properties as wheat flour, which can make baking gluten-free bread a challenge. One of the main challenges in making gluten-free bread is achieving the same texture and rise as traditional wheat bread.
There are a few common reasons why your gluten-free bread may be turning out dense: Insufficient Leavening: Yeast or baking powder creates air pockets in the dough, allowing it to rise and become light. If you don't use enough leavening agents, your bread will not have enough gas bubbles to create that airy texture.
Although Ezekiel bread is technically flourless, it is not a gluten-free product. Those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance shouldn't eat it. There are other flourless breads that do not contain gluten.
The best bread to reduce gut inflammation is bread made from whole grains. Refined grains, such as the grains found in white bread and white pasta, are known to increase inflammation across the whole body. Sourdough bread and rye bread are both good options for an anti-inflammatory diet.
Sourdough bread is transformed when it is fermented for 7 hours or longer. Then it is not only easily digested, but can often be handled by those who are gluten intolerant. Here is a recipe to make overnight sourdough bread.
Through testing this recipe, I found sweet white rice flour or AP 1-1 gluten free baking flour to be an essential component in developing a strong and consistent gluten free sourdough starter. Mixed with another whole grain flour such as buckwheat or brown rice flour yields consistent results.
Feed starter with GF flour and water every 4 hours by using one of the following methods: If using a scale to measure ingredients, combine equal amounts by weight of starter, water, and GF flour. For instance, 50 grams of starter, 50 grams of water, 50 grams of GF flour.
It would be best if you discarded some portion of your starter each time you feed it unless you want to continue to let it grow. Eventually, you need to discard the used “food” (flour and water) that's been used to sustain your starter during the last fermentation period.
Since it is minimally processed when you compare it with white wheat flours, whole wheat flour is said to be packed with nutrients and potential microbes, providing faster fermentation for a starter.
The simple reason is that gluten free bread takes much longer than a regular loaf to bake and therefore a sticky crumb is generally the result of under baking (there could be other reasons but this is the first place to start troubleshooting).
NOTE: Use regular, unbleached all purpose flour or bread flour for best results- skip organic. The enzymes are different which can hinder the rising process the first time around.
Whole wheat flour is an excellent choice for creating a sourdough starter due to its nutrient-rich composition and potential for fostering a robust microbial community. However, it's important to note that the quality of whole wheat flour can vary between brands.
Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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