Flemish desem bread-making the desem starter, part 2 +

1 recipe

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
10 pounds Or more of organic whole wheat flour (to surround the desem
2 cups Coarse stone-ground flour to go into the desem (can be part of the 10 lbs.)
½ cup To 3/4 cup unchlorinated water at room temperature about 65 to 70 degrees F.

Directions

FIRST DAY:

Put your 10 lbs. of flour in a container that is more or less as deep as it is wide. A very strong paper bag of the proper dimensions, an 8 quart bowl, or a bucket all work well.

Take about 2 cups of flour and mix it with ½ cup of water. Add more water (or flour) if necessary to make a dough ball that is stiff but not an absolute brick. Knead it for a few minutes, make it smoothly round, and bury it in the flour. It should be completely surrounded by flour at least 3 or 4 inches in every direction. Smooth the top of the flour, and cover the cantainer to keep out insects and other intruders. Store at between 50 to 65 degrees, not over 70 degrees at any time, for about 48 hours.

SECOND DAY: Maintain the temperature-no need to disturb it today.

THIRD DAY: The top of the flour may show a split or crack. Things are happening! dig out the dough ball and, if there is a dry crust, cut it away with a sharp knife. Then cut away enough more so you're left with half the amount you started with. If no skin has formed, just cut the ball in half-and throw the other half away. You now have half a ball of dough. With clean hands slowly work ¼ cup of pure water into the dough to soften it.Knead in one cup of flour and add more water or flour as necessary to restore the ball to its original size and stiffness. Knead it smooth, round it, and bury it again in the container of flour. smooth and cover the flour, this time for 24 hours at the same cool temperature.

FOURTH DAY: Repeat what you did yesterday. By now the desem should have a slight fragrance of fermentation to it-fresh-a little like sprouting wheat. If yours doesn't have this aroma, make it somewhat softer this time by adding a little more water.

FIFTH DAY: Repeat what you did yesterday.

SIXTH DAY: Today, instead of discarding half the desem, soften the whole thing with ⅓ cup of water. Add 1 cup of flour. Add more water or flour as necessary to get the usual consistancy. This time do not bury the ball but store it in a closed nonmetal container. A glazed crock is perfect, but a glass or plastic container will work also.

Just make sure there's room for the desem to expand a little. If the container is glass, the lid should not fit airtight.

SEVENTH DAY: Soften the entire desem with ⅓ cup water and add 1 cup flour to it. adjust the consistancy so that you have a medium stiff dough-slightly softer than on the previous days. Knead about 10 minutes or 300 strokes. Cut the dough into 4 equal parts, rounding one part and returning it to its container in its cool storage place.

Combine the other 3 parts and cover. This combined three-quarters will be the starter for the bread you prepare tomorrow. Leave it to ripen overnight at room temperature, preferably at 65 degrees but not over 70 degrees. The smaller doughball is your desem, which will provide the starters for future bakings.

The next portion of this adventure will be on baking bread with the new desem.

From "The Laurel's Kitchen Bread Book, A Guide to Whole-Grain Breadmaking" MM format by Mary R.

Submitted By MARY RIEMERMAN On 05-13-95

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