Hermann goes to Namibia

Do you know Hermann? Hermann is a sourdough friendship bread. He normally moves into your house as a gift from family, friends or neighbours. Once you got him, he needs some time to acclimatise. And he needs to be fed before he is ready to to become a wonderful bread or cake after ten days of care.

Here at CCF (Cheetah Conservation Fund), our chef had the idea to bake sourdough bread on a regular base. I remembered Hermann and we decided to give it a try and see, if he likes it in Namibia.

We first had to create the “mother”, the sourdough base, that will then grow constantly.

Mother / Base / Starter

Day 1: Prepare dough
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Flour
¼ Cup Sugar
2 ¼ Tsp Active Dry Yeast
Mix and store @ room temperature

Day 2: Stir once daily
Store @ room temperature

Day 3: Stir once daily
Store @ room temperature

Day 4: Stir & ready to process (see below)

Hermann feeding schedule

Day 1: Stir
Day 2: Stir
Day 3: Stir
Day 4: Stir
Day 5: Feed – Add 1 cup milk, 1 cup Flour, and ½ cup sugar to half portion starter. Mix well and set aside. Refrigerate the starter after a few hours or when the starter begins to show lots of bubbles. Check on every (other) day to see the activity stir down if it has risen too much and on the fifth day it is ready to use.
Day 6: Check on the starter and stir with a wooden spoon or do nothing.
Day 7: Check on the starter and stir with a wooden spoon or do nothing.
Day 8: Check on the starter and stir with a wooden spoon or do nothing.
Day 9: Check on the starter and stir with a wooden spoon.
Day 10: Feed – Add 1 cup milk, 1 cup Flour, and ½ cup sugar to half portion starter. Mix well.

Divide in four equal portions and repeat the feeding process if you want to maintain the starter or use in a recipe.

After ten days, the day of truth came. There are several recipes out there, but we used the one described below. It takes some time, but it´s worth it.

Instructions for a nice bread

Mix starter: 1.5 cups of Hermann + 1.5 cups flour + 1 cup warm water.
The dough will have the consistency of a pancake dough.
Rest / grow (12 hours) at a warm place
Mix bread dough:
- Mix 3 tsp sugar + 1 tsp salt + approx. 5 cups flour
- Mix 2 tsp yeast with 1 cup warm water (I usually need a bit more water, but try with 1 cup first, you can always add more)
- Measure 2 cups sourdough starter
- Add sourdough and yeast to mixture
Rest / grow (20 minutes) at a warm place
Knead & put in oiled bowl (oiled from all sides)
You might also add some herbs into the bread, such as rosemary or garlic, or whatever you think may suit.
Rest / grow (60-90 minutes) at a warm place
Divide in two pieces, knead and put in form
Rest / grow (30-60 minutes) at a warm place
Use a brush to put some water on top. I usually put a cup with water in the oven as well, together with the bread.
Bake for 40 minutes at 175°C