Mix starter until homogenous, cover and let stand on the counter in 70-80F room for 6-8hrs.

Add water to the starter, mix until incorporated, then move the dough to the stand mixer bowl and add flour. Start mixing on low speed for 3-5 min with paddle attachment. Stop, cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 10-15 min. Add salt and mix with dough hook attachment for about 7-10 min until the dough comes off the sides. Transfer to oiled large container, and cover. The dough should rest 3 -4 hrs until it doubles in size.

Transfer to an oiled working bench/counter. Fold using bench scraper into a shape. (Tip: bench scraper and hands should be oiled at this point). Let the dough rest 15-20 min.

Transfer to a baking sheet that is either oiled or lined with parchment paper and oiled. Gently press the dough (with oiled hands) into an oval shape about an inch thick. (Tip: Don’t make it too thin- definitely not thinner than half inch. Mine was about 14”x8”. You could shape these into two small rounds about 5-6 in diameter.) Do the ridges by hand and cover with oiled plastic wrap for 60 min for final proofing

The oven should be preheated to max (mine is 500F) for at least half hour. Place a baking stone or a baking sheet in the middle rack to preheat and a cast iron pan on the bottom rack.

Mix egg white with 2 tsp of water and 2 tsp of vegetable or olive oil. Dip your hands in that mixture and go over the ridges/ indentations on more time then brush the mixture over the loaf.

As soon as you put the pan in the oven, add 2 cups of ice cubes into the bottom cast iron pan to create steam. Close the oven door and bake 18-20 min.