This Buckwheat Sourdough Bread is full of flavor and has a soft crumb and a delicious crust. I love baking gluten-free sourdough and this is one of my go-to recipes! Check out my gluten-free starter recipe here.
Since I discovered gluten-free sourdough I have been experimenting with recipes like vegan gluten-free sourdough, pure sorghum sourdough, millet sourdough, brown rice sourdough, and many others.
This buckwheat recipe has been in the works for a while and I am finally happy to share this recipe with a slight buckwheat flavor (not overwhelming like in 100% buckwheat bread), artisan crust, and a soft crumb!
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Ingredients For Buckwheat Sourdough
- Gluten-free flour mix - the starches soften the crumb while buckwheat flour adds nutrition and a special flavor. I don't recommend using pre-made gluten-free flour for this recipe!
- Gluten-free sourdough starter - you can use any gluten-free starter (brown rice, sorghum, teff, buckwheat, etc.), only make sure it is active and has not been sitting in the fridge for a week prior to baking.
- Psyllium husk - I recommend whole husks vs. powder. If you choose powder, use 18g instead of 20g.
- Baking powder - not essential but helps open the crumb more. Don't swap for baking soda.
- Sugar - another optional ingredient. Sugar helps the yeast bacteria but bread will work great even without it.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions
- Tapioca starch - use arrowroot starch instead.
- Potato starch - you can swap with cornstarch.
- Buckwheat flour - if you don't like buckwheat, try a vegan sourdough with sorghum flour.
- Psyllium husk - while there are some alternatives to psyllium, I have only been able to use Konjac as a substitute (about 6g per loaf). However, the texture and the rise are best with whole psyllium husks.
- Sugar - use honey or maple syrup instead.
- Baking powder - you can skip baking powder if you need to.
my favorite
Banneton baskets
I recommend getting a round 9-inch basket and an oval one for more variety!
How To Make Buckwheat Sourdough
Step 1
First, we will make psyllium gel. Combine psyllium husk and water in a medium-sized bowl and whisk to prevent clumping.
Add the sugar to the bowl and set it aside for a couple minutes.
Step 2
Combine the flour, starches, baking powder, and salt in a separate large mixing bowl and whisk to incorporate.
Step 3
Now, add the sourdough starter to the bowl with psyllium gel and stir to combine.
Step 4
Add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix using an electric mixer with dough hooks or do it by hand.
Mix until the dough comes together and all ingredients seem to have incorporated evenly.
The dough will be sticky but workable.
Step 5
Turn the dough over onto a lightly floured working surface and flatten it out as you see in the picture.
Dust the dough with extra flour if it is sticking to your hands too much!
Fold each side of the dough onto itself as you see in the pictures, flip, and shape the dough into a ball.
Step 6
Place the dough upside down into the banneton basket or a mixing bowl lined with a kitchen towel if you don't use a banneton. Cover the bread with a tea towel to prevent it from drying out.
Leave the loaf to ferment for 5-7 hours at room temperature (21-24C/60-75F) or for 12-18 hours in the refrigerator.
Step 7
Once the bread is done proofing, transfer the loaf onto a piece of parchment paper (handle the dough carefully to avoid deflating it) and score in a pattern you like or as you see in the picture.
Lower the parchment with the bread into a cold Dutch oven, cover with the lid, and place the Dutch oven into a cold oven.
Start preheating the oven to 450F/230C and once it's preheated, start the timer for 40 minutes.
After 40 minutes, take the loaf out of the Dutch oven and transfer it to the oven rack. Lower the temperature to 350F/175C and bake uncovered for another 30 minutes.
Once the bread is done baking, transfer it to a cooling rack and let it sit until no longer warm to the touch. Slice and enjoy!
For bread machine check out these gluten-free bread machine recipes.
Tip!
Wrap the loaf into a kitchen towel 30 minutes into the cooling process to soften the crust. Alternatively, if the loaf is hard to cut, place it into the microwave for a minute and slice.
Storage
Store buckwheat sourdough at room temperature for 3-4 days or slice it and freeze for up to 3 months.
To defrost, simply place a few slices into the microwave for a couple minutes or toast them instead.
Troubleshooting & Tips
- The dough didn't rise - make sure the temperature where you placed the bread is warm and the sourdough starter is active. I don't recommend using white rice flour, coconut flour, almond flour, or potato flakes in a starter as those won't raise your loaf.
- The bread is too gummy - make sure to let your bread cool completely before slicing. If the dough is still tacky, toast the slices to dry out the crumb. Alternatively, you can leave the sliced bread at room temperature until it dries out on its own.
- The crust is too hard - wrap the loaf in a tea towel 30 minutes into the cooling process. This should soften the crumb! If the dough is cooled and it is too hard to slice, simply warm it up in a microwave for a couple of minutes.
- The bottom of the loaf is burnt - you can use a silicone liner for a Dutch oven to prevent burning.
Top tip
If you bake at a high altitude, the fermentation time will be shorter and you might need to add extra water to the dough. Your dough should be sticky, not dry!
FAQ
You can use sorghum but follow this sourdough bread recipe instead.
Overproofing.
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Vegan Buckwheat Sourdough Bread (Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 20 grams whole psyllium husks, use 18g if using powder.
- 400 grams water, room temperature or warm
- 10 grams sugar, optional. Honey/maple syrup can be used instead.
- 180 grams buckwheat flour
- 70 grams tapioca starch or arrowroot starch
- 80 grams potato starch or cornstarch
- 10-12 grams salt, adjust to taste
- 2 teaspoon baking powder, make sure it is gluten-free
- 70 grams active gluten-free sourdough starter
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Instructions
- First, we will make psyllium gel. Combine psyllium husk and water in a medium-sized bowl and whisk to prevent clumping.Add the sugar to the bowl and set it aside for a couple minutes.
- Combine the flour, starches, baking powder, and salt in a separate large mixing bowl and whisk to incorporate.
- Now, add the sourdough starter to the bowl with psyllium gel and stir to combine.
- Add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix using an electric mixer with dough hooks or do it by hand.Mix until the dough comes together and all ingredients seem to have incorporated evenly.The dough will be sticky but workable.
- Turn the dough over onto a lightly floured working surface and flatten it out as you see in the picture in the post.Dust the dough with extra flour if it is sticking to your hands too much!Fold each side of the dough onto itself as you see in the pictures, flip, and shape the dough into a ball.
- Place the dough upside down into the banneton basket or a mixing bowl lined with a kitchen towel if you don't use a banneton. Cover the bread with a tea towel to prevent it from drying out.Leave the loaf to ferment for 5-7 hours at room temperature (21-24C/60-75F) or for 12-18 hours in the refrigerator.
- Once the bread is done proofing, transfer the loaf onto a piece of parchment paper (handle the dough carefully to avoid deflating it) and score in a pattern you like or as you see in the picture.Lower the parchment with the bread into a cold Dutch oven, cover with the lid, and place the Dutch oven into a cold oven. Start preheating the oven to 450F/230C and once it's preheated, start the timer for 40 minutes. After 40 minutes, take the loaf out of the Dutch oven and transfer it to the oven rack. Lower the temperature to 350F/175C and bake uncovered for another 30 minutes. Once the bread is done baking, transfer it to a cooling rack and let it sit until no longer warm to the touch. Slice and enjoy!
Vera Kay says
after fermentation in fridge can I bake straight away or leave until room temp thk you Natasha
Natasha Levai says
Hi Vera! You can bake straight from the fridge.
Vera Kay says
Hi Can I add lemon zest an blue berries to Buckwheat soughdough also at what stage.
Thank you
Natasha Levai says
Hi Vera! You can add your add ins when you mix the loaf. If you want to make a blueberry loaf, you might need to add more sugar and reduce the salt to make it a sweeter bread!
Vera Kay says
Thank you so much appreciate your time definitely trying this
Angela says
I'm new to GF sourdough baking and this recipe was one of my first trials. Super delish! I couldn't wait to make it again. Thankyou 🙂
Natasha Levai says
You are so welcome!
Rebekah says
this has been my new favorite recipe, trying it in a silicone loaf pan today to see how it goes.
Terry says
Hello, this looks like a great recipe. I too have been baking sourdough GF bread for a number of year, however, I have never put the bread in a cold Dutch oven before. What do you find are the benefits of doing this?
Thanks!
Natasha Levai says
Hi Terry! For me it is easier to put the bread in a cold oven because this way I don't need to prepare ahead of time and with small kids I find this method much more convenient. If you like preheating the oven, you can bake that way, too!
Crystal says
Just made this bread and it is delicious! Easy instructions to follow, this was my second attempt at baking GF sourdough. Thank you for this great recipe!
Julie Hogg says
Hi.
Curious as to why the choice of baking powder vs added yeast or none at all?
Natasha Levai says
Hi Julie! Both baking powder and yeast assist in raising the loaf. Yeast speeds up the fermentation process and adds a bit of a special flavor. Baking powder doesn't impact the proofing time, it activates during baking and helps create more air pockets in the dough. Yeast will have a bigger impact on the dough than baking powder, although I find baking powder sufficient. But after all, they both are optional and you don't have to add them!
Annie Walker says
Thank you! Lovely recipe I love the simplicity and flavour of buckwheat. I made this and it was delicious.
Natasha Levai says
Hi Annie! I am happy you liked it! Thank you for sharing!
Giulia says
Thank you for recipe. Do you have recipe for starter. Thank you.
Natasha Levai says
Hi Giulia! Yes, here is a recipe for a gluten-free sourdough starter: https://www.natashashome.com/gluten-free-sourdough-starter/
Natasha Levai says
A wonderful buckwheat sourdough bread recipe with a gently buckwheat flavor and a soft crumb!
LK says
Buckwheat flour is very dark. How is the bread not dark in color ?
Natasha Levai says
My buckwheat flour is light! There are two types of buckwheat flour and the one I buy is light. But you can use the dark type in this recipe without any adjustments!