Add the water, starter, oil, and maple syrup to a large mixing bowl. Whisk until fully combined.
350 grams water, 100 grams active starter, 40 grams olive oil, 15 grams maple syrup or honey
Add the flour and salt to the bowl and use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix until a shaggy dough forms.
550 grams light spelt flour*, 9 grams sea salt
Let the dough rest for 20 minutes, covered.
Once the dough has rested, start the stretches and folds. Do three rounds over the course of an hour, once every 20 minutes.
Cover the dough with a damp tea towel, plate, or beeswax wrap, and set in a cool place to rise overnight.
Day Two
After eight hours, the pizza dough should be at least doubled in size and there should be large visible bubbles.
At this point, you can either divide the dough and freeze** half, or place all of the dough into the refrigerator to chill before shaping. Either way, place the dough you plan on using that day into the refrigerator, covered, for at least four hours.
Once the dough has chilled, it's ready for shaping. Tip it out onto a lightly floured surface and shape as you would a boule, or typical round sourdough bread.
Pat the dough into a rough rectangle, then roll into a log. Turn 90 degrees, making sure the seam is facing up, and roll into a spiral again from the other direction.
Turn the dough over and use your hands to create tension on the outside by twisting on a clean surface.
Place the ball of dough onto a sheet of parchment paper and lightly flour the surface. Use your hands to gently press it into a round, making sure to keep the edges slightly higher for a good outer crust.
Cover with a tea towel and set aside to rise at room temperature for 2-3 hours.
To Bake
Once the pizza has risen, preheat the oven to 240°C (460°F).
Add the desired sauces and toppings to the pizza dough.
When the oven is fully preheated, place the baking sheet onto the centre rack. If your oven loses heat when the door is opened, reset it to the original temperature so that it heats again quickly.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a deep golden brown. The time will depend largely on toppings, thickness of the crust, and type of baking sheet.
Cool for five minutes on the pan before slicing and serving.
Notes
* Use up to 100% whole grain spelt, but only if you're familiar with baking with spelt and good at shaping sourdough. It is a bit harder to work with.** To freeze the dough, place it into an airtight, freezer safe container. Seal and freeze for up to a month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before shaping and baking as usual.• Cup measurements are not provided for sourdough recipes as they vary too much. A scale is a good investment if you're a keen baker.