Potato Water Sourdough Starter
- 3 medium baking potatoes, like russets, peeled and cubed
- 1 quart water
- 2 1/2 cups potato water
- 1 package active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- In a medium saucepan, cover the potatoes with water.
- Cook over medium heat until tender, about 20 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes, reserving water and using potatoes for another use.
- Cool the cooking liquid to lukewarm (110 degrees F).
- In a large bowl, combine the potato water, dry yeast, and sugar.
- Let sit until the yeast blooms and becomes foamy, about 5 minutes.
- (If the yeast does not bloom, discard the mixture and begin again with a new yeast.)
- Add the flour and stir vigorously to work air into the mixture.
- Cover with a towel let sit in a warm, draft-free place for 8 to 12 hours.
- (The mixture should become very bubbly.)
- Use immediately or cover loosely with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.
- Preserving the Starter: Each time you remove a portion of the starter for a recipe, reserve at least 1/4 cup and replace the amount you have taken out with equal amounts of flour and water.
- For example, if you remove 1 cup of starter, you must replace it with 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of warm water.
- Whisk these ingredients into the starter until blended but not completely smooth, cover loosely, and return to the refrigerator.
- Also, the starter must be maintained by feeding it every few days.
- Refresh by removing 1 cup of the starter (give to a friend or discard it) and adding 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of warm water.
- Whisk until blended but not smooth.
- Cover loosely and return to the refrigerator.
- If you plan to be away longer than a week, freeze the starter in a sterilized, airtight freezer container.
- Thaw the starter 2 days before you plan to bake with it.
- Refresh as indicated above with 1 cup each of flour and warm water.
- Cover and leave at room temperature 12 hours or overnight before using.
- CAUTION: Never keep your starter tightly closed!
- The gasses expelled by the yeast will build up pressure and may cause the container (such as a glass jar) to burst!
baking potatoes, water, potato water, active dry yeast, sugar, flour
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/potato-water-sourdough-starter-recipe.html (may not work)