Guest post: Simple Sourdough

It’s Sourdough September! We asked our friendly neighbourhood sourdough superstar Martin O’Gorman about his journey into the wonderful world of sourdough over the lockdowns.

Every story has a beginning. With Simple Sourdough I recall a Nigerian friend Mekor, dressed in a kilt, reading Scottish poetry and drinking whiskey. It was Burns' night, a Scottish celebration. Mekor asked if I would show him how to make sourdough. One person became four and soon I was agreeing to a couple of sourdough evenings at my place, passing on my skills and knowledge.

My own sourdough story began a couple of years earlier. I love the stuff. Toasted with butter, it melts in your mouth. It is natural and wholesome. I figured I should try to make it. But how? And so, like many people, I resorted to YouTube and books, made my own starter and by trial and error hit on something that was at least edible — but not that glorious loaf you see rising into view in your local bakery.

Then the breakthrough — my wife Nessa got me a present of a class in a local bakery and I came home with a rye loaf, a bulging sourdough boule and tasty focaccia. It was a great success and since then I have followed, perfected and sometimes adapted the simple process. It works every time.

This story ends as it began, with my friend Mekor. At the start of Covid lockdown he suggested I video the process, advertise it on our local community Facebook page and see where that takes it. Simple Sourdough was born. Every now and then a complete stranger will stop me in the street and thank me for the wonderful bread that they have been producing since then. Pure magic.

Check out Martin’s series on making the perfect simple sourdough:

Find out more about Sourdough September here.