Sourdough Rye Bread

This is a rich, flavorful bread with an earthy tang with the deep flavor of rye, heartiness of whole wheat, and tanginess of sourdough.

Prep25 min
Cook55 min
Total13 hr 20 min
Serves1 large loaf

Published 17 Oct 2024

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If you’re looking for a rich, flavorful bread with an earthy tang,sourdough rye breadis the perfect choice. This bread brings together the deep flavor of rye, the heartiness of whole wheat, and the tangy character of a well-developed sourdough starter.

round loaf of sourdough rye bread on brown wooden board.

Despite its artisanal quality, this bread is surprisinglyeasy to make with simple ingredients, making it accessible toallhome bakers. Its versatility shines through as it pairs wonderfully with a variety of foods, from deli meats in sandwiches to accompaniments for soups and stews.

While the sourdough process may seem daunting, it’s quite manageable and can be a wonderful opportunity toinvolve your children in the kitchen. And, like with all breads, the smell that fills the air while it’s baking is always a great way to make your home feel instantly cozy!

🍞🥖 New to sourdough? Find out how tomake your own sourdough starter here, find my mostpopular and basic bread recipe here, and search thesourdough archive here.

round loaf of rye bread cut up on towel.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Complex Flavor: The combination of rye, whole wheat, and sourdough starter creates a deeply flavorful, hearty loaf.
Perfect for Sandwiches: Sourdough rye is sturdy enough to hold up to any sandwich fillings, from aturkey club sandwichtoroasted veggie sammies.
Natural Ingredients: No commercial yeast here—this recipe relies entirely on your sourdough starter to rise, resulting in a delicious and easier-to-digest bread.
A Fun Challenge: Whole-grain sourdough loaves are a bit different than an all-white flour loaf, so this will be a great chance to try your hand at something new.

Recipe Ingredients

Sourdough starter
Rye flour
Whole wheat flour
Bread flour
Salt
Molasses
Caraway seeds, optional

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

ingredients for sourdough rye bread on white countertop.

How to Make Sourdough Rye Bread

ingredients for rye bread in mixer bowl on white countertop.

Step 1:When the starter is active, combine it with the water. Add the rest of the ingredients following the recipe card. Mix well to combine and knead until soft.

Step 2:Cover the dough with a damp towel, plastic wrap, or beeswax wrap and allow it to bulk-ferment at room temperature until doubled in size, about 12 to 18 hours.

round bread dough on brown parchment paper with scored lines in top of dough.

Step 3:Cover the dough with a damp towel, plastic wrap, or beeswax wrap and allow it to bulk-ferment at room temperature until doubled in size.

Step 4:Turn the dough out onto parchment paper and score the top. Place in Dutch oven and cover with the lid.

baked round rye bread loaf in blue dutch oven.

Step 5:Place in the hot oven and cook for 40 minutes. Remove the lid and bake uncovered for another 10-15 minutes.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this bread without a Dutch oven?

Yes! If you don’t have a Dutch oven, you can bake the bread on a baking sheet. Just be sure to add steam to the oven by placing a pan of water on the bottom rack to help create a crispy crust.

What if I don’t have rye flour?

You can substitute additional whole wheat flour or bread flour if you don’t have rye flour on hand. However, using rye flour gives this bread its signature earthy flavor, so it’s worth seeking out.

How should I store the bread?

Once cooled, store your sourdough rye bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. You can also freeze the loaf for longer storage.

round baked loaf of rye bread on wooden cutting board set on white towel.

Expert Tips

Active Sourdough Starter: Make sure yoursourdough starter is activeand bubbly before mixing the dough.Feed it 4-12 hours before starting.
Don’t Rush Fermentation:Rye breadbenefits from a long fermentation process, which allows the flavors to fully develop. You can let this dough rest at room temperature for 12-18 hours depending on your schedule.
Scoring the Dough: Scoring the dough with a razorallows the bread to expandin the oven. To create a beautiful contrast with the baked crust, you can also dust the top with flour before scoring.
Flour Tips:Bread flour adds extra gluten to this recipe and helps to support the whole wheat flour. It makes the bread soft and fluffy while still including whole grains.If you use an all-purpose flour, you’ll end up with a flatter, denser loaf that is still delicious.
Pro Preheat Tip!You canpreheat your Dutch oven in the ovenwhile the oven is heating up if you want to before putting in the dough. I often do, but you don’t have to. If you are comfortable moving hot, heavy pans, you can; if you don’t want to, it’s okay not to.

Other Sourdough Breads To Try

These are some of my other dare-I-sayamazingsourdough recipes that have become family favorites!

slices of bread on wooden board with butter and jam on one slice.

More Sourdough Recipes to Consider

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Sourdough Rye Bread

If you’re looking for a rich, flavorful bread with an earthy tang, sourdough rye bread is the perfect choice. This bread brings together the deep flavor of rye, the heartiness of whole wheat, and the tangy character of a well-developed sourdough starter.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups water ((300 grams))
1 cup sourdough starter ((200 grams))
1 cup rye flour ((140 grams))
1/4 cup whole wheat flour ((35 grams))
2 cups bread flour + ½ cup if needed ((270 grams + up to an additional 70 grams))
1 1/2 teaspoons salt ((9 grams))
1 tablespoon molasses ((21 grams))
2 teaspoons caraway seeds (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the sourdough starter:: Feed your sourdough starter 4-12 hours before making the dough to ensure it is active and bubbly.
Mix the dough:: In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine the water and sourdough starter. Add the rye flour, whole wheat flour, 2 cups of the bread flour (reserving the remaining ½ cup), salt, molasses, and caraway seeds (if using). Turn the mixer on low and mix well to combine.
Mix the dough:: Continue to mix on low to medium-low speed for 5 minutes.
Mix the dough:: After 5 minutes, add the additional remaining bread flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough is soft but not sticky. Only add flour as needed; you may not need it all.
Mix the dough:: Mix in the stand mixer for an additional 3 to 5 minutes until a smooth and elastic dough comes together.
Bulk fermentation:: Remove the dough from the bowl of your stand mixer and put it in a heavy ceramic or glass bowl. Cover the dough with a damp towel, plastic wrap, or beeswax wrap and allow it to bulk-ferment at room temperature until doubled in size, about 12 to 18 hours.
Shape the dough:: Gently remove the dough from the bowl. Using your hands, gently pull the dough ball towards you, letting its grip on the counter pull it into a tighter ball. Rotate the dough slightly and repeat around the edges until you’ve formed a tight ball.
Shape the dough:: Prepare a bread-proofing basket by dusting it well with flour (if it’s new, you’ll need to season it by spraying it with a little water and then adding the flour so it sticks), or use a medium mixing bowl (about 8 inches across). To prepare the mixing bowl, you’ll want to coat it generously with cooking spray and then flour very well, or you can line it with a kitchen towel and dust it very well with flour.
Shape the dough:: Place your dough ball, smooth top down, into your prepared basket or bowl, and cover with a damp towel.
Proof the dough:: Let the dough rest for 1 to 4 hours at room temperature or until it’s spread out a bit and looks puffy.
Proof the dough:: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Score and bake:: Gently turn your bread dough onto a piece of parchment paper. (I like to put my parchment paper on top of a thin cutting board, put the paper and board on top of my bread basket, and turn it over gently).
Score and bake:: Remove the dough from the bowl. Score the top with a lame or sharp knife.
Score and bake:: Use the corners of the parchment paper to lift the dough into your Dutch oven. Place the lid on the Dutch oven.
Score and bake:: Place the Dutch oven in the hot oven and cook for 40 minutes.
Score and bake:: Remove the lid and put the Dutch oven back in the oven, uncovered, for another 10-15 minutes.
Score and bake:: The bread will be dark and sound hollow when tapped when it is done.
Cool:: Remove the pan from the oven, remove the bread from the pan, and let it cool on a wire rack for 1 hour before slicing and serving.
Cool:: Sourdough bread is best eaten the day of, though leftovers make great toast or grilled sandwiches.

Notes

Molasses adds a slight sweetness and depth to the rye bread, balancing out the earthy flavor of the rye flour. Optional but highly recommended! Caraway seeds add a classic rye flavor that enhances the overall taste of the bread. If your home is cooler, allow more time for bulk fermentation. In warmer homes, the process will be faster. The rising times can also be adjusted to fit your schedule. Make the sourdough work for you and not the other way around. You can replace the whole wheat flour with additional rye flour if you’d like.