If you are an avid sourdough starter user you are familiar with those times that you have left your starter on the counter for more than 24 hours and it isn’t as full of life as it used to be. By all means, this sourdough starter is still good! It can simply be considered discard at that point which means you can make easy sourdough discard recipes with it.
You might also have sourdough discard if you are starting a new sourdough starter and literally “discarding” half of your starter in those first few days. Once a sourdough starter is established there is no need to discard before feeding again. It is important to note, all of these 3 easy sourdough discard recipes can be made with bubbly and active starter, it does not have to be lacking bubbles in order to make sourdough discard recipes.
3 Easy Sourdough Discard Recipes
- Sourdough Discard Crepes
- Sourdough Discard Tortillas
- Sourdough Discard Pizza
What are the benefits of sourdough?
Sourdough is a long time tradition, dating back to biblical times. Although it wasn’t always called sourdough, any reference to ‘yeast’ before approximately 1850 was most likely referring to sourdough. Packet yeast was not available until right before the turn of the 20th century.
The benefits of sourdough come from the probiotics that create a nice bubbly sourdough starter. In order for the sourdough starter to become bubbly, it must continuously multiple good bacteria (aka, probiotics). As most of us probably know, probitoics are great for our gut health!
The benefits from a sourdough starter are more prominent when you do extended soaking time with your recipes. This means making the mixture and allowing it to rest for at least 12 hours so the good bacteria can soak up into your flour (depending on the recipe).
Sourdough Discard Crepes
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Sourdough Discard
- 2 Farm Fresh Eggs
- 2 Tablespoons Butter, Melted
- 1 Tablespoon Raw Honey
- Pinch of Sea Salt
Directions:
- Preheat a well seasoned cast iron pan on medium heat.
- Combine all of the ingredients into a bowl or cup with a spout, I use one like this.
- Whisk thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined. The mixture will be water-y
- Pour a pancake-size amount of crepe batter into your preheated pan. Move the pan around until the batter thins out into a crepe size.
- Allow the crepe to become brown on one side before flipping, about 1 minute per side.
- Serve with real butter and more raw honey on top!
Sourdough Discard Tortillas
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Flour, I use this.
- 2 Tablespoons Butter or Lard, Melted.
- 1/2 Cup Water
- 1/2 Cup Sourdough Discard
- Pinch of Sea Salt
Directions:
- Start by melting your butter in a small saucepan.
- Preheat a cast iron skillet to medium heat.
- Combine all of the ingredients in a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment.
- Turn the mixed on low and allow the sourdough discard tortillas knead for about 10 minutes.
- Once the dough is done, take it out of the mixer and start pinching off palm-size balls to roll out.
- Roll out your tortillas to whatever size you like, I prefer to do around 6-8 inches.
- Add the tortilla to your hot pan and allow to cook about 1 minute on each side.
- IMPORTANT!!!!! Once the tortillas has cooked, immediately place it into a towel and wrap it up. This is what makes the tortillas stay soft. If you skip this step they might feel crunchy or hard to roll/fold.
- Store flat in the freezer and defrost as needed.
Sourdough Discard Pizza
Ingredients:
1 Cup Sourdough Discard
Toppings of Choice
Directions:
Preheat a well seasoned cast iron skillet in a 425 degree oven.
Once the pan is hot, take it out of the oven and pour your 1 cup of sourdough discard into the skillet.
Move the skillet around so the sourdough discard coats the entire pan, even up the sides of the pan. This will be your pizza crust.
Put the sourdough discard pizza crust back into the oven to cook for about 10 minutes.
While the crust cooks prepare whatever toppings you like, I used onions caramelized in a balsamic glaze.
NOTE* It is best to precook any raw ingredients before adding them to the pizza to ensure the crust will not overcook.
Once the crust is done cooking it will come away from the sides. Take your sourdough discard pizza out of the oven and add all of your toppings.
Place the pizza back into the oven and use the broil function to quickly melt the cheese, if you choose.
Serve as usual.
All of these 3 easy sourdough discard recipes can be made in unique ways depending on what you have or what is in season. Adding fresh fruit and raw whipped cream to the sourdough discard crepes would be a marvelous addition!