Easy Olive Sourdough Bread Recipe for Beginners

If you’re looking for a simple way to elevate your sourdough baking, olive sourdough bread is one of the best recipes to start with.

It has a rich, savory flavor from olives and still keeps the classic tangy sourdough taste. Even beginners can achieve bakery-style results with this recipe.

Why This Recipe Works

This olive sourdough bread is:
• Beginner-friendly
• Full of flavor
• Perfect for sandwiches or serving with meals
• A great way to practice sourdough skills

The olives add flavor without complicating the baking process.

Ingredients

• 500g bread flour
• 350g water
• 100g active sourdough starter
• 10g salt
• 80–100g pitted olives (chopped)

Instructions

1. Mix the Dough

Mix flour and water until no dry flour remains. Let it rest for 30–45 minutes.

2. Add Starter and Salt

Add sourdough starter and salt, then mix until fully combined.

3. Add Olives

Gently fold in chopped olives during the stretch and fold process.

4. Bulk Fermentation

Let dough rest for 4–6 hours at room temperature, doing stretch and folds in the first 2 hours.

5. Shape the Dough

Shape into a round or oval loaf depending on your preference.

6. Proofing

Place in a proofing basket and refrigerate overnight for better flavor and structure.

7. Bake

Bake in a preheated Dutch oven at 230°C (450°F):
• 20 minutes covered
• 20–25 minutes uncovered

🟡 Recommended Tools for This Recipe

To make this olive sourdough bread successfully, having the right tools can make the process easier and help you achieve more consistent results.

Recommended tools include:

 • Digital scale for accurate measurements
 • Dough whisk for mixing ingredients evenly
 • Dough scraper for handling sticky dough
 • Proofing basket for shaping and proofing
 • Bread lame for scoring before baking
 • Dutch oven for creating a crisp artisan crust

👉 Explore our complete collection of sourdough Bread baking tools here

Pro Tip

Don’t overload the dough with olives. Too many can affect fermentation and make the bread dense.

Final Thoughts

Olive sourdough bread is a perfect recipe for beginners who want to upgrade their baking skills. It’s simple, flavorful, and helps you understand fermentation and dough handling better.