Bread making is a skill, but it is also a pleasure, rooted in traditions that have nurtured generations.  Sourdough, pasta madre in Italian, is one of bread-baking’s most popular variations with its signature tang and unique health benefits. It is also one of the easiest and most natural, its starter made from flour, water, and time.

Riccardo Astolfi has mastered the art of baking with sourdough and here collects 90 taste-tested recipes for breads, as well as sweets and savories such as brioche, sweet buns, traditional panettone, pancakes, bagels, pizza and more. Each recipe calls for organic and locally available ingredients, and is tested for the home kitchen.