A classic Tartine-inspired country loaf: mostly bread flour with a touch of whole wheat for flavor and strength. Crisp crust, custardy crumb, and a flexible timeline.
Mix starter, bread flour, whole wheat flour, and 350 g water until no dry bits remain. Rest 30–45 minutes.
Add reserved 25 g water, squeezing through fingers until incorporated. Add salt, mix until cohesive. Cover and let it rest for 30 minutes
Over the first 2 hours, perform gentle stretch-and-folds every 30 minutes. Covering the dough in between
Cover and rest 2 hours at room temperature. Bulk is complete when the dough is smoother, jiggles when moved, shows bubbles at the edges, and has risen about 30–40% - the time depends on your kitchen temperature
Lightly flour surface, preshape, rest 15 minutes. Final shape into boule or batard; place in floured banneton.
60–75 minutes at room temp OR 8–16 hours in fridge. Dough should slowly spring back when poked.
Preheat Dutch oven at 500°F . Score dough, load on parchment. Bake covered 20 minutes at 475°F, then uncovered 18–25 minutes until deep golden
Transfer to rack, rest at least 1–2 hours before slicing.
Enjoy!
Notes
Hydration can be nudged higher (up to 75%) for a more open crumb—handle gently and lengthen bulk slightly.
A longer overnight proof gives a tangier flavor and easier scoring.
Try variations: add sesame or poppy seeds to the crust, fold in roasted garlic, or swap 20–30 g of water for olive oil for a softer crumb.