Biga

Transform your homemade bread with this easy, 3-ingredient biga—a traditional Italian pre-ferment that adds incredible flavor, texture, and aroma to your loaves. Made with just all-purpose flour, water, and a pinch of instant yeast, this overnight starter develops a rich, slightly tangy complexity as it ferments for 12 to 16 hours. The process is wonderfully simple: mix, rest, and watch as it bubbles and comes to life, signaling it's ready to elevate everything from crusty artisan breads to soft rolls. Perfect for bread enthusiasts seeking bakery-quality results, biga is the secret to achieving that airy crumb and golden, chewy crust in your baking. Give your dough the head start it deserves!

Nutriscore Rating: 79/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:10 mins

Servings: 1

Ingredients

• 150 grams All-purpose flour
• 90 milliliters Water
• 0.5 grams Instant yeast

Directions

Step 1

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, water, and instant yeast.

Step 2

Stir the mixture with a spoon or your hands until a sticky, shaggy dough forms. It does not need to be smooth; just make sure there are no dry pockets of flour.

Step 3

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel to prevent it from drying out.

Step 4

Let the biga rest at room temperature (around 20-22°C or 68-72°F) for 12 to 16 hours. It should bubble and roughly double in size during this time.

Step 5

Once ready, the biga will have a slightly tangy smell, a moist texture, and a lively appearance, indicating that it is fermented and ready to use in your bread recipe.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	241.8 grams (241.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	548

Total Fat 1.50g	2%
Saturated Fat 0.20g	1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 114.70g	42%
Dietary Fiber 4.20g	15%
Total Sugars 0.30g
Protein 15.70g	31%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 26mg	2%
Iron 7mg	39%
Potassium 166mg	4%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 2.5%

Protein: 11.7%

Carbs: 85.7%