So, you haven’t hopped on the sourdough train yet? It’s not as scary as it seems, but getting started IS the hardest part. Why not involve the kids? There are SO MANY discard recipes you can make at home during these hot summer months, many of which are extremely kid-friendly. Here are a few tips on how to get started, along with some of my favorite recipes.
How to Get Started
You can find a sourdough starter anywhere online these days. They are shipped dehydrated (but still live) and are fairly easy to get going. Summer is a great time, too, because the warmer it is, the quicker they grow. If you have a local friend who can give you some of their discard, that’s probably the best option. While you are grabbing that, get their tips and tricks! If you order from someone online, they’ll send you a feeding schedule. What that means is basically every day around the same time, you’ll be discarding half of your starter and adding flour and water to it. You can pop that discard in the fridge in a glass jar (mason jars work great), and that’s why you’ll need all the discard recipes, because your discard stock will start growing quickly.
I got my starter here. It came with excellent instructions and recipes! Alternatively, here are some instructions if you want to try your hand at making your own starter from scratch!
READ: Cooking With Kids: How to Make It an Adventure!
The main thing is to not overthink it. I put this off for months, dreaming of the smell of warm bread in my kitchen but continuing to buy it off the shelf. My only regret is that I didn’t start sooner! And you may screw it up (I did my first starter), but it’s all part of the cooking process — trial and error, right? — which is an important lesson for kids to learn.
Best Bread Recipes
- Traditional Sourdough Bread: There are TONS of health benefits to traditional sourdough bread. For instance, because it is a live culture, it is filled with natural probiotics. And you know there are no preservatives since you’re making it at home. You choose the flour you use; I recommend King Arthur Organic if you can and they sell a HUGE bag at Costco.
- Sandwich Bread: This is a sweeter option, and it’s shaped more for sandwich slices. I’ve also been wanting to try this one.
- Hawaiian Rolls: My youngest is obsessed with these Hawaiian rolls, so I am looking forward to trying a healthier version!
Best Discard Recipes
Breakfast
- Pancakes: These pancakes are super easy to whip up in the morning. My kids are spoiled because I never mind making homemade pancakes since it’s minimal clean up. This is fairly easy for kids to handle too as far as mixing, adding the batter to the pan, and flipping.
- Waffles: Made these waffles for my birthday, and they did not disappoint! Another easy one for kids to help with.
- Cinnamon Rolls: These cinnamon rolls have several steps involved (including proofing!) but are totally worth it. Hands down 10 times better than the store-bought and pop can.
- Pop Tarts: These pop tarts are unbelievable! You can even add your own homemade jam, but we used some from Costco that was pretty “clean.”
Snacks
- Soft Pretzels: My kids LOVE soft pretzels like Auntie Annies. This soft pretzel version is a much healthier alternative, plus you don’t have to chase them through a germ-infested shopping mall.
- Pizza Rolls: I haven’t tried sourdough pizza rolls yet, but they’re on my list!
Lunch and Dinner
- Tortillas: This tortillas recipe was delicious, although it is hard to roll them thin enough so they’re not like a pita and more like a tortilla. I have heard that a tortilla press is best to achieve this, so if you eat them a lot, like us (between tacos and cold cut wraps for lunch), it may be worth the small-ish investment.
- Sourdough Pizza Crust: My kids love pizza. The local pizza place in town, Domino’s delivery, a hot and ready from the gas station (iykyk)… any kind will do. But they loved this sourdough pizza crust so much that they ask for it on repeat. And it’s good to know it’s homemade and a much healthier option than any of these previously mentioned. It is a good consistency, a little crunchy, and a little chewy. Not too thick or thin, but it does have a high rise so it almost looks like deep dish.
Desserts
- Chocolate Chip Cookies: Adding sourdough to cookies makes them taste fresh from a bakery… thick, soft, and chewy! Hint: The key is not to over-mix.
- Pie Crust: This pie crust can be used for savory or sweet pies. I’m excited to try this recipe for Shepherd’s Pie when it gets cooler and at Thanksgiving for pumpkin pies!
What sourdough discard recipes would you try first? Some on my wish list include crackers, croutons, and granola… happy baking!
