Rustic Einkorn Sandwich Bread
There’s nothing easier than this rustic einkorn sandwich bread. It’s fast, simple, and healthy for you thanks to long fermentation. The perfect, everyday loaf!
I get great satisfaction not having to run to the store to stock up on foods that are less than nutritious and healthy for my family. This rustic einkorn sandwich bread is way better than any store-bought counterpart. I know that’s a tall order, but t.r.u.s.t. me, it is!
I made my sourdough starter over 8 years ago now, and I have made some loaves in my time, let me tell ya. It has taken some time to get the hang of working with a variety of flours, mastering the art, the crumb, the flavors. All the things, right?
I’m so excited to share this with you and help you to knock this off your list of self-sufficient things to learn. Especially after this year we’ve endured. Sigh.
WHY I LOVE SOURDOUGH
With a little flour and water, I can have my own yeast to use for making bread, while keeping my family’s gut health thriving and full of immune-fighting, beneficial bacteria.
Did you know that just a few generations ago sourdough starters were a common kitchen commodity, passed down from generation to generation? Sadly, in our modern age we have just about lost that knowledge, craft, and art.
Health Benefits
Have you ever heard of phytic acid? It’s the naturally occurring preservative found on grains, nuts, and seeds. In other words, an antinutrient. In order for your body to digest it, the body draws from its own mineral resources to break down the phytic acid to properly digest the food. The cause and effect is the loss of mineral and nutrition absorption. Also, wasted money. Also, not healthy.
Enter sourdough! By soaking or souring these otherwise shelf-stable grains, the phytic acid is mostly, if not all, removed, allowing for the absorption of nutrients the way the body was intended. Source Traditional cultures somehow knew this, and thus this method was a normal way of life. However, today’s society hasn’t a clue about this process. And we wonder why this generation has developed so many allergies/diseases, gut-health issues, and intolerances. Things that make you go “hmmm”. (So sorry if that just instigated the never-ending musical phrase in your head)
Video Tutorial Rustic Einkorn Sourdough Bread
Items needed to make Rustic Einkorn Sourdough Bread
- Einkorn wheat berries
- Grain mill—I love my MockMill for many reasons. Stone ground means less nutrient loss since the flour comes out cool vs. an impact mill; versatile in variety of grains, seeds, spices it can mill; grinds super-fine to cracked-grain sizes; fairly quiet compared to a high-speed blender or impact mill; just to name a few.
- Sourdough starter—check out my post HERE if you need to make one!
- Dough whisk—I use this handy einkorn tool and love it! This one will also work.
Ingredients
- 5 1/3 cup einkorn flour
- 1 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup active sourdough starter
- 2 tsp salt
Directions
- Start with fresh ground einkorn berries. 1 cup of einkorn berries will grind into roughly 1.3-1.5 cups.
- Add sourdough starter, water, and salt.
- Mix with einkorn tool or danish whisk until all flour is incorporated. It will look like you have a shaggy mess on your hands. Perfect!
- Cover bowl with a very damp towel or, as I prefer, an inverted bowl over top. Proof 8-12 hours.
- Preheat oven to 450º F. You can create a steam bath by placing a pan of water on the bottom rack of oven (optional).
- Scrape dough out into buttered or greased loaf pan. Smooth the top of the loaf with wet fingers. Let rise again (second proof) until dough is just below the top of the rim of the loaf pan. This can take from 1-3 hours, depending on how warm your kitchen is.
- Bake for 30-40 min. This depends on your oven. Check at 30 min. Is your loaf nice and brown? Does it sound hollow when tapped on the top? If your answers are yes, it’s done!
- Allow to cool 10 min before releasing the loaf from the pan to cool completely on a wire wrack.
- Store your loaf of bread on the counter in a paper bag, linen bag, or the like for up to a week. If you have little pieces unused, like the heels, or the loaf dries out before it’s eaten, cube into 1-inch pieces and store in a sealed bag in the freezer. These pieces are perfect for french toast casseroles, bread crumbs, and even homemade stuffing/dressing!
More Sourdough Recipes
I have more sourdough recipes for you to try out, with lots more on the way in upcoming posts.
RUSTIC SOURDOUGH SKILLET CORNBREAD
SOURDOUGH EINKORN CHOCOLATE BREAD
Save It For Later
RUSTIC EINKORN SOURDOUGH BREAD
Equipment
- Grain mill—I love my MockMill for many reasons. Stone ground means less nutrient loss since the flour comes out cool vs. an impact mill; versatile in variety of grains, seeds, spices it can mill; grinds super fine to cracked grain sizes; fairly quiet compared to a high-speed blender or impact mill; just to name a few.
- Sourdough starter—check out my post HERE if you need to make one!
- Large glass mixing bowl
- Dough whisk—I use this handy einkorn tool and love it! This one will also work.
Ingredients
- 5 1/3 cup einkorn flour
- 1 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup active sourdough starter
- 2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Start with fresh ground einkorn berries. 1 cup of einkorn berries will grind into roughly 1.5 cups.
- Add sourdough starter, water, and salt.
- Mix with einkorn tool or danish whisk until all flour is incorporated. It will look like you have a shaggy mess on your hands. Perfect!
- Cover bowl with a very damp towel or, as I prefer, an inverted bowl over top. Proof 8-12 hours.
- Preheat oven to 450º F. You can create a steam bath by placing a pan of water on the bottom rack of oven (optional).
- Scrape dough out into buttered or greased loaf pan. Smooth the top of the loaf with wet fingers. Let rise (second proof) until dough is just below the top of the rim of the loaf pan. Bake for 30-40 min. This depends on your oven. Check at 30 min. Is your loaf nice and brown? Does it sound hollow when tapped on the top? If your answers are yes, it’s done.
- Allow to cool 10 min before releasing the loaf from the pan to cool on a wire wrack completely.
Notes
Do you like to make bread?
I think one of the best things I have learned is to make all of my family’s bread from scratch. It’s so wholesome, healthy, and economical. I can’t imagine how much money we’ve saved over the 18+ years of our little Van Loo Nation.
How about you? Do you make your own bread? Have you ever worked with einkorn? It can seem intimidating at first because it behaves SO differently from the modernized wheat we’ve all learned to bake with, but I hope this post helps you overcome that hurdle and be confident that you too can bake up an amazing loaf of goodness! I’d love to hear how it goes for you.
Victoria
August 1, 2024 @ 11:02 am
Hi Amy, could this bread be made with half white & whole wheat Einkorn? If so have you tried it? And what would be the measurements for this break up? Thank you
Nancy Burbank
March 2, 2024 @ 7:52 pm
Amy, can I add honey to this recipe? If so, how much, and how would I have to adjust the quantity of the other ingredients? I’ve read that honey added to the dough reduces the tanginess, in addition to sweetening it. I want an Einkorn sourdough sandwich bread that’s as mild (un-sour) as possible. Right now I’m making a no-knead Einkorn sourdough sandwich loaf with Bob’s Red Mill regular yeast. I use freshly ground Einkorn berries. My current recipe calls for (raw) honey, which contributes to a lovely flavor. I’d like to start using natural starter, but I want to preserve that gently sweet flavor with the addition of honey and keep the sourness to a minimum.
Marcy L. Downing
February 8, 2024 @ 10:57 pm
Hi Amy, I tried out this recipe and love it, my family (& friends) have given it rave reviews! I too, am a Sourdough lover in my breads and baked goods, I’ve tried pizza crusts, rolls, biscuits, breads (artisan & sandwich loaves) english muffins and hamburger rolls & pancakes. I’m a fairly newcomer to Sourdough, I ordered the dry stuff from San Francisco Sourdough Company, mixed it up and used Einkorn as the feeder flour, it’s worked beautifully! I’ve had it for not quite a year, I leave it out on my counter, feed ev. 12 hrs and just keep it going… I don’t take any out unless I’m baking, I just keep adding and using in baked goods, so far, so good. Thank you for this “dump, proof & bake” bread, it’s a wonderful everyday bread! Marcy~
Mark
August 26, 2023 @ 5:46 am
I have tried this recipe at least 10 times and it always cracks no matter what I do or how close I follow the directions. I have also tried other methods such as kneading three hours after initial mix, turning oven down after 10 minutes, steam bath, spraying top of loaf as cooking, and it Always cracks open. Also, loaf ends up gummy inside at either a 30 to 45 minute baking time as well, even with a complete cool before cutting. I truly wish this were as easy as it’s been made to sound, but I have not been able to get a loaf yet without the issues I’ve described here. I’m currently looking for a better recipe now. This one was disappointing and again I really wanted this to be the one, having minimal ingredients was definitely what I wanted.
Joann
February 22, 2022 @ 5:10 pm
What size bread pan do you use?.
Laura
December 23, 2021 @ 11:20 am
I was wondering if you know or if you have ever measured by grams instead of cup measurements ? Do you think I could convert the measurements to grams or do you think that is a bad idea ? Love your videos by the way !
Kristin Brancaleone
September 11, 2021 @ 10:05 am
I’m excited to try this recipe today! I’ve tried many times to make a nice sourdough loaf doing all the “proper” steps- the proofing basket, the folding and kneading, etc. I have yet to produce a loaf that doesn’t go immediately to the pigs, lol. Crossing my fingers on this one. I’m a simple girl and more than happy to eat a simple loaf as long as it tastes good!
Kristin
September 19, 2021 @ 8:53 pm
Update- turned out great! My first loaf of truly edible sourdough bread. I was able to whip it up before bed, let it sit overnight, and have it ready for breakfast the next morning. This is a keeper!
Robin
August 15, 2021 @ 9:19 am
This just says 1/2 sourdough starter. 1/2 of what?!?! Eek!
Amy | Our Amyable Farmhouse
August 15, 2021 @ 1:19 pm
Thanks for bringing that to my attention, Robin! I’ll fix that. 1/2 cup active sourdough starter.
Robin Diaz
August 16, 2021 @ 9:32 am
Thank you!! I ended up watching the video and it says it in there! We just made it and my daughter (5) kept stealing pieces before it cooled, she said “I think a caterpillar is eating through your loaf” haha! But now I put it back in the oven because I think her stealing pieces made the steam release and the bottom is doughy. But could be my oven too!
Anna Rodriguez
May 29, 2022 @ 4:10 pm
Thank you for posting this video! I made your recipe twice already. The bread is delicious and so simple to make. I always slice the loaf after cooling, place small pieces of parchment or wax paper between the slices and store in the freezer in a gallon sized plastic zip bag. Practically zero waste this way.
Laura
November 13, 2024 @ 7:17 am
Mine turned out gummy. Why would that be? I baked it for 35 minutes and it was about 125 degrees when it came out. I followed the recipe exactly. Do you have any recommendations for tweaks I can make?
Alma
July 27, 2021 @ 6:12 am
I haven’t made this bread because I’m looking for einkorn bread recipe using yeast. My family doesn’t like sourdough flavor. I know the health benefits are much better using sourdough, but not if they won’t eat it.
Thanks
Donna
June 6, 2021 @ 5:45 am
Trying this out today—I didn’t realize there was such a long proof time! EEEK. I will be baking bread at 9 pm. Tonight! I noticed your recipe says at the top – Bake time 10 minutes – I think you might mean 10 hours??
I have been intimidated with my Einkorn flour – so was nice to have the video to see what it should look like! Cross your fingers.
Sue Michalka
March 19, 2021 @ 9:20 am
Hi Amy,
I’ve been baking bread my whole adult life … with 5 kids (3 boys & twin girls) it’s been a full house & never a dull moment!!! I’ve recently developed many food allergies and have become quite concerned as it is very difficult to pin down what, specifically, is causing these reactions. We are slowly narrowing it down, but what a rough journey! After much research & study & trying so many different types of gluten-free flours, I decided to try Einkorn flour. When it arrived, I tried using a familiar old recipe with a few tweaks … & was horrified at the consistency of the dough. I guess I thought it would be similar to my old wheat flour recipe that I used to knead with pleasure. Well, THAT didn’t happen. I scraped the dough from my fingers and finally slopped it into my bread pan and set it to rise. I finally baked it … such as it was @ 450 degrees F. [I hadn’t run into your site as yet.] Anyway, it tasted good, but looked weird.
After seeing your YouTube video, I’m relieved to know that the “shaggy mess” is normal for this Einkorn flour! [Thank you!] Will post again when I give it another go. Aloha, Sue
Amy | Our Amyable Farmhouse
March 19, 2021 @ 1:20 pm
Aloha, Sue! Thank you for writing, and I’m so glad you are trying einkorn. And yes, what a journey you’re on—props, mama! Once you get the hang of einkorn, it really is enjoyable. I’ve learned that working with the ancient grains is a unique category of dough all it’s own. Now I thoroughly enjoy it, and can easily switch between einkorn, kamut, spelt, and rye. Glad you went ahead and baked that weird looking loaf, because it’s almost always redeemable! Even if the texture wasn’t good enough for sandwiches or such, I’ve found that mess-ups are great for cubing up and using for french toast casseroles. So great to hear from you (all the way from the islands I assume—I’m from the Big Island!) ~Amy