Mother Dough Starter

Words & Photography
by Lisa Hsieh

These loaves were made from a starter by my friends in Portland...the mother dough starter is just flour and water, combined with the natural microbes in the air and bacteria on the baker’s hands...

I made two loaves of sourdough country bread (Tartine Bakery recipe), gave one away to family and kept one for ourselves. We top slices with sweet fresh figs and some Irish butter. These loaves were made from a starter by my friends in Portland. Since the mother dough starter is just flour and water, combined with the natural microbes in the air and bacteria on the baker’s hands, I wonder how my own starter will change the taste of my next batch of breads.