Benjie's notes on dough

Photo by Viktor SOLOMONIK on Unsplash
baking-science bread crumb-structure fermentation gluten home-baking oven-spring sourdough
DoughRise 7 min read
Why Your Sourdough Crumb Looks Nothing Like the Photo (The Science of Gas, Gluten, and Oven Spring)
Open crumb or tight crumb — here's the actual science behind why your sourdough crumb structure turns out the way it does, and how to change it.
Basket of freshly baked sourdough pita breads
bread flatbread herbs pita recipe sourdough spring za'atar
DoughRise 5 min read
Sourdough Pita Bread with Za'atar Butter and Spring Herbs
Soft, pillowy sourdough pita bread with a wild herb za'atar butter. A genuinely useful recipe for spring baking with your active starter.
baked pizza
flatbread french baking pissaladière pizza recipe sourdough sourdough starter spring
DoughRise 6 min read
Sourdough Pissaladière: A Southern French Flatbread Worth Making This Spring
A slow-fermented sourdough pissaladière with caramelised onions, anchovies and olives. A French classic on a proper sourdough base. Recipe + tips.
pizza on brown plastic tray
bread fermentation focaccia recipe sourdough sourdough focaccia spring
DoughRise 5 min read
Sourdough Focaccia with Roasted Grapes, Gorgonzola & Walnuts
A spring-ready sourdough focaccia topped with roasted grapes, gorgonzola and walnuts. Deeply flavoured, surprisingly simple, and absolutely worth your weekend.
Sourdough focaccia bianca with roasted garlic, rosemary and flaky salt
bread fermentation focaccia recipe sourdough sourdough starter spring
DoughRise 6 min read
Sourdough Focaccia Bianca with Roasted Garlic, Rosemary & Flaky Salt
A pillowy, golden sourdough focaccia bianca topped with roasted garlic, rosemary and flaky salt. Perfect spring baking project with real fermentation flavour.
A sliced loaf of bread next to a knife
acidity baking-science bread fermentation flavour home-baking sourdough
DoughRise 6 min read
The Science of Sourdough Sourness: Why Some Loaves Taste Mild and Others Pucker Your Cheeks
Want more tang in your sourdough, or less? Here's the actual science behind what controls flavour — and how to dial it in at home.
a pizza with cheese and toppings
flatbread pizza recipe ricotta sourdough spring vegetarian
DoughRise 6 min read
Spinach, Lemon & Ricotta Sourdough Flatbread Pizza
A bright spring sourdough flatbread pizza with wilted spinach, lemon-spiked ricotta and toasted pine nuts. Easy recipe with a same-day dough option.
A pizza with spinach leaves on top of it
asparagus flatbread pizza prosciutto recipe sourdough spring taleggio
DoughRise 7 min read
Asparagus, Prosciutto & Taleggio Sourdough Pizza
A spring sourdough pizza with asparagus, prosciutto and melted taleggio on a crispy fermented base. Proper flavour, proper texture, dead easy to pull off.
brown bread on brown wooden table
autolyse baking-science dough-handling intermediate sourdough spring-baking tips
DoughRise 5 min read
How to Autolyse Properly (And Why It Makes Shaping So Much Easier)
Autolyse is one of the simplest techniques in sourdough baking — and one of the most overlooked. Here's how to do it right and what it actually changes.
a close up of a person kneading dough on a table
baking-science fermentation intermediate planning sourdough spring-baking tips
DoughRise 5 min read
How to Build a Better Bake Schedule Around Your Real Life
Sourdough doesn't have to rule your weekend. Here's how to plan your bake schedule around your actual life and still get brilliant results.
A person in a kitchen preparing food on a counter
baking-science bread-making intermediate shaping sourdough tips
DoughRise 5 min read
How to Shape Sourdough Properly (And Why Most People Skip the Step That Matters Most)
Shaping sourdough is about more than looks. Learn the practical steps to build real surface tension and get a better rise every time.
bread on brown wooden table
baking-science bread crust fermentation scoring sourdough spring-baking
DoughRise 7 min read
The Science of Sourdough Scoring: Why a Blade and a Bit of Geometry Can Transform Your Loaf
Scoring your sourdough isn't just decorative. Here's the science behind why how and where you cut your dough changes everything about how it bakes.
man wearing white polo shirt
baking-science bread fermentation home-baking oven-spring sourdough spring-baking
DoughRise 8 min read
The Science of Oven Spring: Why Your Sourdough Explodes in the First 15 Minutes of Baking
Oven spring is where all your prep pays off. Here's the science behind what actually happens in those first 15 minutes — and how to get more of it.
Rectangular pizzas with various toppings including cheese and olives.
cherry tomato feta flatbread pizza recipe sourdough sourdough starter spring
DoughRise 6 min read
Roasted Cherry Tomato & Whipped Feta Sourdough Flatbread Pizza
A vibrant spring sourdough flatbread pizza with blistered cherry tomatoes and whipped feta. Easy recipe using your active sourdough starter.