Sourdough Bread: A Beginner's Guide - The Clever Carrot
It's made with 5 simple ingredients: bread flour, active sourdough starter, water, salt and olive oil (which makes the interior crumb incredibly ...
professional culinary background,
Now, with over 13 years of sourdough bread experience paired with my <anchor>professional culinary background,</anchor> I can wholeheartedly say: I understand this craft from the ground up. I understand the fear, the hesitation, the procrastination, the excitement, the curiosity and teaching others from a practical, no-nonsense approach is my specialty.
About - The Clever Carrot
About - The Clever Carrot

#### Sourdough tips, videos & recipes

Sourdough tips, videos & recipes

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# About

![Emilie Raffa |theclevercarrot.com](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20700%201050'%3E%3C/svg%3E)

### About Emilie

Emilie Raffa is a cook, baker, and author of IACP finalist and bestselling book: [_Artisan Sourdough Made Simple_](https://www.amazon.com/Artisan-Sourdough-Made-Simple-Handcrafted/dp/1624144292) and _[The Clever Cookbook.](https://amzn.to/3OJeDH5)_

Classically trained at the [ICC,](https://www.ice.edu/) Emilie’s enthusiasm and no-nonsense approach to cooking and baking [sourdough bread](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2014/01/sourdough-bread-a-beginners-guide/) has inspired people all over the world. Her blog reaches millions of viewers each month, with features in _Oprah,_ _The Washington Post, Saveur,_ _Food & Wine_ and more. Emilie and her husband also own [Sfoglia](https://www.sfogliarestaurant.com/), a boutique, seasonal Italian restaurant in NYC.

When she’s not talking (or thinking) about food, you can find her gardening, parenting, and planning her next trip around the world!

### About The Blog

The Clever Carrot features easy [sourdough bread recipes,](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/category/sourdough-recipes/) [sourdough discard recipes,](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/category/sourdough-discard-recipes/) [sourdough starters,](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/category/sourdough-starters/) and bread baking tips, videos & techniques.

### What You’ll Learn

- How to Make a [Sourdough Starter](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2019/03/beginner-sourdough-starter-recipe/)
- How to Bake a [Simple Beginner Loaf](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2014/01/sourdough-bread-a-beginners-guide/)
- How to Bake [Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls,](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2017/12/how-to-make-sourdough-cinnamon-rolls-step-by-step-guide/) Focaccia, Bagels, and more!
- What to Do With [Leftover Sourdough Discard](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/category/sourdough-discard-recipes/)

To get started, check out [Sourdough Bread: a Beginner’s Guide](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2014/01/sourdough-bread-a-beginners-guide/).

![Sourdough| theclevercarrot.com](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20750%20854'%3E%3C/svg%3E)

### Emilie’s Story

In 2006, I walked out of my miserable corporate job and into the magical world of cooking.

I graduated from the [International Culinary Center](https://www.internationalculinarycenter.com/) with my Classic Culinary Arts Degree and went on to work in a variety of creative fields: private chef, line cook, recipe developer, food stylist and behind the scenes on cooking shows. For the first time in a _long time_, I finally felt like I was with “my people.”

Curious about writing and photography, I started The Clever Carrot in 2012. My blog focused on healthy comfort food and balanced living. However, my world changed overnight when a packet of dried sourdough starter showed up on my doorstep… all the way from Sydney, Australia!

![Sydney Bridge](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%203024%202268'%3E%3C/svg%3E)![Emilie and Celia](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201334%20750'%3E%3C/svg%3E)

### A Bread Baker Is Born

Celia and I “met” through our blogs and became instant, virtual friends (kindred spirits, really).

She graciously dried out a portion of her starter, named Priscilla, and popped it into the mail. Little did I know that this unassuming packet of white flakes would magically jumpstart my sourdough journey.

Now, I had dabbled in bread baking before. But sourdough was completely different.

I became utterly obsessed with baking the natural way (no rapid rise yeast) and was fulfilled on a level that was deeply connected to something way bigger than me. Through Priscilla, which Celia has graciously shared with hundreds, if not thousands of people all over the world, I became part of an international family tree of bakers!

PS: the picture above is Celia and I meeting for the first time in 2018. We were standing on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

![Sourdough Bread | theclevercarrot.com](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%202438%202775'%3E%3C/svg%3E)

### Sourdough For Beginners

In 2014, I went on to write [Sourdough Bread: A Beginner’s Guide](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2014/01/sourdough-bread-a-beginners-guide/) and posted it to my blog.

I felt compelled to share everything I knew from a beginner’s perspective because at the time, a comprehensive online guide did not exist.

IT WENT VIRAL.

I accidentally tapped into a market of beginner bakers, who just like me, needed someone to explain the sourdough process in plain English.

To this day, my beginner’s guide is THE MOST popular post on my blog.

It also paved the way for my book, [_Artisan Sourdough Made Simple._](https://amzn.to/2ToAvZQ)

Here’s a short video trailer of the cookbook you might like (don’t mind my weird face here…)!

### Come for the Bread. Stay for the Food…

As my passion for sourdough grew, so did my audience.

Today, millions of people visit this site in search of baking simple, yet delicious sourdough bread.

In addition to sourdough bread, I create simple, seasonal recipes including, sweet treats, muffins, tarts, soups, salads, lite bites, dinner ideas, and more!

There’s a little something for everyone, so come hungry OK?

![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20750%201058'%3E%3C/svg%3E)![Apple Tart](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20768%201024'%3E%3C/svg%3E)

### Press & Cookbooks

My work has been featured in _Oprah Magazine, Redbook Magazine, Clean Eating, Women’s Health Magazine,_ _The Huffington Post, Food 52, Saveur, Food & Wine, Today Food,_ and in the pages of _Artful Blogging Magazine._

I was a finalist for ‘Best Food Photography’ in the _Saveur_ Blog Awards and contribute to the digital cooking publication, feedfeed.

I’m also very fortunate to be a published author. My first book is called [_The Clever Cookbook,_](https://amzn.to/2Ek1X4q) and my latest title is [_Artisan Sourdough Made Simple,_](https://amzn.to/2ToAvZQ) which was nominated for an IACP award in 2018.

## Primary Sidebar

### Meet Emilie

![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20400%20385'%3E%3C/svg%3E)

Hi! I’m Emilie, author of the best selling book: [Artisan Sourdough Made Simple](https://www.amazon.com/Artisan-Sourdough-Made-Simple-Handcrafted/dp/1624144292?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=emilieraffa-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=048b2b65b988998abbf1c5084bdd6f45&camp=1789&creative=9325). I’m a bread baker, pasta maker, and head over heels for old world Italian recipes. Let’s cook together! More here: [about Emilie.](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/about/)

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### Get the book

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[Buy Now](https://amzn.to/3dFveGN)

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### Popular Now

[![Sourdough focaccia](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20400%20400'%3E%3C/svg%3E)](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2022/04/best-sourdough-focaccia-bread-recipe/)[![Loaf of sourdough bread on a table](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20400%20400'%3E%3C/svg%3E)](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2014/01/sourdough-bread-a-beginners-guide/)[![Tray of baked sourdough bagels](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20400%20400'%3E%3C/svg%3E)](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2021/06/easy-homemade-sourdough-bagels/)

Stay up to date with all the latest

#### Popular Sourdough Recipes

- [Sourdough starter](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2019/03/beginner-sourdough-starter-recipe/)
- [Sourdough bread](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2014/01/sourdough-bread-a-beginners-guide/)
- [Sourdough focaccia bread](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2022/04/best-sourdough-focaccia-bread-recipe/)
- [Sourdough pancakes](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2020/05/homemade-fluffy-sourdough-pancakes/)
- [Sourdough pizza crust](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2022/11/best-sourdough-pizza-crust-no-baking-steel-or-stone/)
- [Sourdough bagels](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2021/06/easy-homemade-sourdough-bagels/)
- [Sourdough cinnamon rolls](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2017/12/how-to-make-sourdough-cinnamon-rolls-step-by-step-guide/)
- [Sourdough sandwich bread](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2020/04/easy-sourdough-sandwich-bread/)
- [Sourdough pasta](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2023/04/best-sourdough-pasta-1-hour-or-overnight/)

#### Sourdough Tips + Techniques

- [How to feed sourdough starter](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2021/01/feeding-sourdough-starter-my-best-tips-tricks/)
- [What sourdough starter container to use](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2017/10/4-different-containers-for-your-sourdough-starter/)
- [Sourdough starter troubleshooting](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2018/03/troubleshooting-your-sourdough-starter/)
- [How to stretch and fold sourdough](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2020/05/how-to-stretch-and-fold-sourdough/)
- [How to shape a round sourdough boule](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2020/07/how-to-shape-a-round-sourdough-boule/)
- [What to do with sourdough discard](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2020/10/sourdough-discard-101-recipes-faqs-answered-pancakes/)
- [Sourdough bread fillings](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2021/06/how-to-add-fillings-olive-sourdough-bread-recipe/)
- [My book, _Artisan Sourdough Made Simple_](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/cookbooks/artisan-sourdough-made-simple/)

#### Dinner Pastas & Sauces

- [How to make fresh pasta dough](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2021/12/beginners-guide-fresh-homemade-pasta-dough/)
- [Homemade ravioli](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2022/10/beginners-guide-to-fresh-homemade-ravioli/)
- [Arriabbiata sauce](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2023/01/20-minute-arrabbiata-sauce/)
- [Alfredo sauce](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2024/01/real-alfredo-sauce-no-cream/)
- [Pasta carbonara](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2024/02/creamy-5-ingredient-pasta-carbonara-sauce/)
- [Ragu bolognese sauce](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2022/01/ragu-bolognese-sauce/)
- [Pomodoro sauce](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2022/08/authentic-pomodoro-sauce-fresh-or-canned/)

#### Seasonal Staples

- [Brioche burger buns](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2013/05/light-brioche-hamburger-buns/)
- [Brioche rolls](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2016/01/how-to-make-brioche-rolls/)
- [Apple crumble](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2020/10/easy-make-ahead-apple-crumble-recipe/)
- [Butternut squash ravioli](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2022/11/fresh-homemade-butternut-squash-ravioli/)
- [Classic lasagna](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2023/10/classic-lasagna-bolognese-ragu-bechamel-sauce/)
- [Italian anise biscotti](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2022/11/italian-anise-biscotti/)
- [Shortbread cookies](https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2012/12/santas-shortbread-cookies/)

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