Autolyse

Autolyse is a technique in sourdough baking where just the dough ingredients  are combined and allowed to rest before adding any other ingredients. This simple yet effective process does two things:

1. activates enzymes which play a vital role in breaking down starches and proteins and
2. gives the dough a head start to build a strong gluten network before we even mix the starter in and start the fermentation process.

This method is especially beneficial when using a high percentage of sourdough starter (over 20%) or when you are using a high percentage of water (over 72%).