12 Sourdough Discard Recipes to Try at Home

Sourdough starter discard is the byproduct of sourdough starter feeding. A typical feeding process calls for removing a certain amount of the existing starter, then feeding what’s left with whole wheat or all-purpose flour and water. The amount removed from the starter is the discard and often gets thrown away. However, there are many sourdough discard recipes to prevent food waste.

Sourdough bread baking requires an active sourdough starter, like many other sourdough recipes, to give the bread its lift. However, use sourdough discard in recipes for a tangy, sour taste instead of as a leavening agent. Sourdough discard recipes are ready to bake almost immediately unless it’s also a yeasted recipe since the starter discard doesn’t need to ferment.

Sourdough discard lasts in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Store it in a jar with a lid or another airtight container. If there are any pink or orange streaks or visible mold on the discard, throw it away. For sweet baked goods, like cinnamon rolls or donuts, use fresh sourdough discard, and older discard for savory recipes, such as pretzels or sourdough discard crackers.

1. 1. Sourdough banana bread: Since sourdough banana bread uses sourdough discard, it is still a quick bread with a chewy, tender crumb, just like regular banana bread. Add sourdough starter discard for a signature sourdough flavor and baking powder and baking soda for fluffy banana bread. Learn how to make this easy sourdough banana bread recipe.
2. 2. Sourdough biscuits: Buttery sourdough discard biscuits use the discard for flavor and get their lift from other leavening agents. Make sweet or savory sourdough biscuits, and bake the biscuits in a cast-iron skillet for a crispy, golden brown exterior. The tang in the sourdough starter complements the tang from the buttermilk in the biscuits.
3. 3. Sourdough brownies: Sweet, chocolaty, and slightly tangy from the sourdough starter, sourdough brownies use starter discard instead of an active starter. Many brownie recipes lack a leavening agent, so they are okay without the lift from an active sourdough starter. Try this sourdough discard brownies recipe.
4. 4. Sourdough chocolate cake: Typical chocolate cake recipes call for baking powder and baking soda, and sourdough chocolate cake does, too. The sourdough starter discard adds a tangy flavor that enhances the dark chocolate in the cake. This sourdough chocolate cake recipe calls for natural cocoa powder for a deeper chocolate flavor.
5. 5. Sourdough chocolate chip cookies: Some chocolate chip cookie recipes prioritize sweetness over any other flavor, but adding sourdough starter discard adds a tangy, slightly savory flavor to the cookies. Master this sourdough chocolate chip cookie recipe that’s full of chocolate and sourdough flavors.
6. 6. Sourdough coffee cake: Sweet from the cake batter and warm from the cinnamon swirl and crumble, sourdough coffee cake is a great combination of flavors. Coffee crumb cake usually has sour cream in the batter, which pairs well with the tangy sourdough starter discard. Learn this whole-wheat sourdough coffee cake recipe.
7. 7. Sourdough English muffins: Use fluffy and tangy sourdough English muffins for breakfast sandwiches or English muffin pizzas or toast them and slather them with butter and jam. The tang from the sourdough starter works with various flavors, making this sourdough English muffin recipe a versatile bread recipe.
8. 8. Sourdough flatbread: Try making this sourdough flatbread recipe for your next pizza night, or use it as a dipper for hummus and other dips. Flavor the flatbread itself in myriad ways or use it as a vehicle for a slew of different toppings. Since flatbreads are lightly leavened or not leavened at all, using starter discard is optimal.
9. 9. Sourdough naan: Accompany saucy chicken tikka masala or paneer makhani with tangy sourdough naan. This easy sourdough naan recipe uses classic ingredients, like ghee and cilantro, and pairs well with the sourness of sourdough starter discard. Cook the naan on a hot griddle for a crispy exterior and pillowy inside.
10. 10. Sourdough pizza crust: Like traditional pizza dough, home cooks top this tangy twist on the classic with traditional Italian ingredients like pizza sauce, pesto, fresh mozzarella cheese, Parmesan, and fresh basil, and bake it in a high-heat pizza oven. This sourdough pizza crust recipe uses both sourdough starter discard and instant yeast.
11. 11. Sourdough scones: A flaky, tangy, biscuit-like spin on the popular British quick bread uses tangy, fermented sourdough discard in the dough. Make these sourdough scones and top them with classic spreads like clotted cream, lemon curd, or fruit jam for a sweet and tangy breakfast or snack.
12. 12. Sourdough waffles: Some sourdough waffle recipes call for an active sourdough starter to give the waffles a slight rise, but that’s not necessary since waffle recipes already call for baking powder. Adding sourdough starter discard to a waffle batter adds a tangy flavor and chewy texture. Try this nine-ingredient sourdough waffles recipe.

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