The Sour Baker's Techniques

Well there are really 3 things to know about The Sour Baker (that's me, Martin), that motivate me to pursue my love for making and baking bread, and they are:

1. Balance

Bread is all about balance. Balancing time. Balancing combinations of ingredients. And balancing temperature and climate.

2. Creativity

I don't think there's anything more creative than the process of making bread. At the heart of it all is learning to master the dough and not being mastered by it.

3. Wonder

I never cease to be amazed at how a variety of combinations of flour, water and salt, can result in such a range of delicious and beautiful looking bread. 

Wax On, Wax Off

The Sour Baker was born the first time I played with flour, water and salt. And unlike other pastimes that have tended to come and go, the making of dough turned out to be a bit more sticky and something I wanted to pursue. I determined to master the art and science of bread making, and so a new chapter of my life began. 

I spent many hours researching and learning about the many different methods and techniques used in making bread. I systematically worked my way through different suggestions and recommendations, finding out what worked and what didn't, until, in one of those invaluable eureka moments, I recognised it was time to trust my own instincts.

Everybody's Bread is Not the Same:

I realised it was time to think about how to make the process of bread making match the unique climate and environment of Bangalore. So, I took all I'd learned so far and focused on making it work within my own parameters and specific conditions.

Now, I still research and experiment, make no mistake. There will always be something to learn and new ways to think about things. That's the beauty of bread! But there is a balance - that word again - between learning from others and learning what works for me. It's a case of wax on wax off.

Stick at it and persevere until I get the results I'm looking for... and then continue getting better.

The Satisfaction of Hearing Bread Sing:

When I think about my life so far as 'The Sour Baker,' there have been many moments during the bread making journey that have marked progress and brought me another step closer to mastery. It's not possible to share them all here for fear of boring you silly! But here are 3 of my favourite moments that I remembered to capture - I often get caught up in the moment and forget to document!

First up, listening to bread I've baked sing. Yes it really sings. Have a listen and you'll see what I mean...

Glorious Gluten:

One of my personal favourites ... every time I see it.

And every time you make dough this happens ... but I never get tired of it. Seeing how the gluten develops and how the dough strengthens as it goes through each stage of getting ready for the bake.

The Slap and Fold Technique:

This is one of my favourite parts in the bread making process. Once you get the hang of it you realise just what a difference using the slap and fold technique can make. Feeling the dough strengthen and take shape in your hands is a phenomenal feeling. Take a look to see me in action - or at least my hands!

And there you have it:

If you're still curious to learn more about The Sour Baker, take a look around the site and don't be afraid to ask questions. I'm really not sour at all, and if you want to find out more about how to bake bread from home, I'm happy to help if I can.

For now, it's time for me to go and play with some dough :)