Tomato Bruschetta with homemade sourdough bread

👨‍🍳 Method

For the homemade sourdough bread ✓ Homemade · or skip – back to store-bought

1. 1
   Mix the whole wheat flour, white flour and water until no dry flour remains, and let rest 30 minutes (autolyse).

   💡Autolyse lets the flour absorb the water before the starter and salt: the gluten develops on its own, and the kneading is shorter.
2. 2
   Add the starter and the salt and Knead 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.

   BowlStand mixer

   💡For yeast dough, use the windowpane test: a small piece stretches into a thin, translucent sheet without tearing, and that's the sign the kneading is done. Add flour only by the tablespoon, and only if the dough is still sticky after a few minutes: too much flour makes a tough dough.
3. 3
   Leave the dough in a covered bowl 4–6 hours at room temperature, folding it every half hour.

   Bowl

   💡Folding: pull one side of the dough up and fold it over itself, turn the bowl and repeat from all four sides. This strengthens the dough without kneading.
4. 4
   Shape into a loaf and place in a floured proofing basket, cover and refrigerate overnight.

   Proofing basket (banneton)Refrigerator
5. 5
   Preheat the oven to 250°C (480°F), with a cast-iron pot inside.

   Oven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
6. 6
   Turn the dough out into the hot pot and slash the top with a sharp knife.

   Cast-iron potKnife
7. 7
   Bake in the covered pot 20 minutes, until the bread rises. Remove the lid and bake 25 more minutes, until the crust is deep brown.

   OvenCast-iron pot

   💡The covered pot traps the dough's steam during the first half: the crust stays soft, and the bread rises fully before it hardens.

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.

For the Topped Toast

1. 8
   Tear the basil by hand.
2. 9
   Toast the bread slices on the grill, until they are crisp on both sides.

   Gas grill
3. 10
   Rub each slice with a halved garlic clove while the slices are still hot.
4. 11
   Mix the tomatoes, basil, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and black pepper.

   Bowl
5. 12
   Place tbsp of the mixture on each slice and serve immediately.