Seeded Sourdough Bread Food

SEEDED SOURDOUGH BREAD

Steps:

• Toast the sesame seeds in a dry skillet on medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
• Combine all three kinds of seeds in a small bowl and add the 100g of water, allowing the seeds to soak up the water (especially the chia seeds) during the dough's autolyse stage.
• Mix the flour and water and cover the dough to autolyse for about 1 hour.
• Knead and pinch the salt and leaven into the dough. Mark the time, and cover and let the dough rest for about 30 minutes.
• Begin a series of 4-6 stretch and folds 20-30 minutes apart, covering between each stretch and fold, and adding in the watery seed mixture at the second stretch and fold.
• Let ferment until the dough is puffy and bubbly. From the marked time the leaven was added, this bulk ferment can be as little as 3-4 hours if your room temperature is over 80F or as long as 10-11 hours if your room temperature is under 70F. My dough fermented 5.5 hours at 77F.
• Scrape your fermented dough out onto a floured countertop. Press out the gases while you creating a rectangular shape with the dough, then fold the dough in thirds on the long side, and then in half to make a tall square shape.
• Cover with plastic and let the dough rest for 15 minutes.
• Prep your counter with extra chia, sesame, and poppy seeds in a circle if you're making a boule and an oval if you're making a batard. Also, prep your banneton with flour as well.
• If you're using a tea towel to line a bowl or basket, you have the option of laying it flat on your counter, flouring it and then coating it in seeds.
• Shape your dough into a boule or batard by knitting the sides together, and then rolling and pressing the top into the middle several times until the dough is completely flipped over. OR Flip your dough over, and tuck in the sides while rotating it in a circle.
• Let the dough rest a few minutes to close the seams on the underside, then dampen the top of the loaf with a wet hand or by spraying it. Use your dough scraper to lift your boule/batard off the counter and flip it onto the layer of prepped seeds, rolling it a bit to capture as many as possible.
• Transfer the dough to your floured basket. Cover and proof until it has expanded and does not rebound as readily when poked. This could be as little as 45 minutes at room temperatures and as long as 10 hours in the refrigerator. My dough proofed for 2.75 hours in the refrigerator.
• 30 minutes before your proofing stage is over, preheat your oven to 500F (or the recommended temp for your baking vessel) with the baking vessel inside.
• Bake at 500F for 30 minutes, lid on
• Bake at 450F for 10 minutes, lid off
• Or until the internal temperature of the bread is about 205F.

SEEDED SOURDOUGH RECIPE

Steps:

• (9:00 a.m.)In a small container, mix the Levain ingredients and keep at 78°F (25°C) for 5 hours.
• (9:10 a.m.)Add the Seed Soaker ingredients (except the sunflower seeds) to a heatproof bowl and let soak until called for in bulk fermentation.
• (1:00 p.m)In a medium mixing bowl, add the Autolyse ingredients and mix until no dry bits remain. Cover the bowl and let rest for 1 hour.
• (2:00 p.m.)To the mixing bowl holding your dough, add the Final Mix ingredients and mix to incorporate. Then, strengthen the dough for another 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Transfer your dough to a bulk fermentation container and cover.
• (2:10 p.m. to 5:40 p.m.)Give the dough 4 sets of stretch and folds at 30-minute intervals, where the first set starts 30 minutes after the start of bulk fermentation. Before the first set of stretch and folds, spread the seed soaker, sunflower seeds, and lemon zest (optional) over the dough. Each set of folds will help incorporate the mixture into the dough.
• (5:40 p.m.)Lightly flour your work surface and scrape out your dough. Using your bench knife, divide the dough in half. Lightly shape each half into a round shape. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes, uncovered.
• (6:10 p.m.)Shape the dough into a round (boule) or oval (batard), top with a mixture of sesame, flax, and fennel, and place in proofing baskets.
• (6:20 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. the next day)Cover proofing baskets with reusable plastic and seal them shut. Then, place both baskets into the refrigerator and proof overnight.
• (Preheat oven at 8:00 a.m., bake at 9:00 a.m.)Preheat your oven with a combo cooker or Dutch oven inside to 450°F (230°C). When the oven is preheated, remove your dough from the fridge, score it, and transfer it to the preheated combo cooker. Place the cooker in the oven, cover with the lid, and bake for 20 minutes. After this time, remove the lid (you can keep it in the oven or remove it) and continue to bake for 30 minutes longer. When done, the internal temperature should be around 208°F (97°C). Let the loaves cool for 2 hours on a wire rack before slicing.

SOURDOUGH GRAIN & SEED BREAD

Steps:

• ABM:.
• Place all ingredients (in order listed) in your bread machine, and set to dough cycle. When complete, form into a loaf and place in a greased loaf pan. Allow to rise to doubled. Bake in 375 oven for 40 minutes, until it is golden and passes the knock test. For a more rustic loaf, you can form onto a greased cookie sheet and allow to rise, or better yet, use a baking stone if you have one! You could also allow your bread machine to follow a complete cycle, allowing it to bake in the machine.
• KA or Stand Mixer:.
• Place all ingredients in order listed, in bowl. Mix using dough hook until dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Dough shoud be smooth, slightly damp. Oil a large bowl, and place dough in, swishing it around to coat.
• Allow to rest for 30 minutes. Fold dough (like you would a letter), turn 90 degrees, and repeat foldings. Allow to rest 30 minutes more. Repeat foldings.
• Form into loaf and place in greased loaf pan, or onto a greased cookie sheet. Allow to rise until doubled (2-3 hours.) Bake in a 375 degree oven for approximately 40 minutes, until it is golden and passes the knock test.
• Note #1: To proof your starter, feed it with 1 cup flour (preferably multigrain in this case) and 1 cup water, then let it sit overnight or up to 12 hours, covered. This is what develops the characteristic sour flavor and the longer the proof, the sourer it will be.
• If you start with 1/2 cup of starter and feed it 1 cup each of water and flour, you should have enough to make your bread and save the rest to start your next batch.
• Note #2: To use a baking stone, allow your loaf to rise on parchment paper, placed on a board. Place the stone in the oven when preheating it, allowing it 30 minutes to heat the stone. Move the loaf onto the stone using the parchment paper (you can bake it right on the paper, on the stone.).

SOURDOUGH RYE WITH CARAWAY SEEDS

Steps:

• Combine the starter and water in a 6-quart bowl. Break up the starter well with a wooden spoon and stir until it loosens and the mixture is slightly frothy. Add the rye flour and stir until well combined. Add the whole wheat flour, salt, caraway seeds, and just enough of the bran flour to make a thick mass that is difficult to stir. Turn out onto a well-floured surface and knead, adding remaining flour when needed, until dough is soft and smooth, 15 to 17 minutes, or make in a heavy-duty mixer. All finished rye doughs will remain slightly sticky. Be cautious about adding too much flour when kneading. The dough is ready when a little pulled from the mass springs back quickly.
• Shape the dough into a ball and let it rest on a lightly floured surface while you scrape, clean, and lightly oil the large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl and turn once to coat with oil. Take the dough's temperature (ideal temperature is 78 degrees). Cover with a clean damp towel or plastic wrap and place in a moderately warm (74 to 80 degrees) draft free place until doubled in volume.
• Deflate the dough by pushing down in the center and pulling up on the sides. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead briefly. Cut into 2 equal pieces. Flatten each with the heel of your hand. Shape each piece into a 12-inch log for long loaves.
• Using 2 well-floured towels and wood blocks, make a couche* in a moderately warm draft-free place. Place the loaves seam side up the couche. Cover with a clean damp towel or plastic wrap and let proof until almost doubled in volume, or until a slight indentation remains when the dough is pressed with the fingertip.
• Preheat the oven and baking stone on the center rack of the oven to 450 degrees, 45 minutes to 1 hour before baking. The oven rack must be in the center of the oven. If it is in the lower 1/3 of the oven the bottom of the breads may burn, and if it is in the upper 1/3, the top crusts may burn. Gently slip the loaves from the couche onto a well-floured peel so that they are right side up. Using a very sharp, serrated knife or a single-edged razor blade, score the loaves by making quick shallow cuts 1/4 to 1/2-inch deep along the surface.
• Using the peel, slide the loaves onto the hearth. Quickly spray the inner walls and floor of the oven with cold water from a spritzer bottle. If there's an electric light bulb in the oven, avoid spraying it directly?it may burst. Spray for several seconds until steam has filled the oven. Quickly close the door to trap the steam and bake 3 minutes. Spray again in the same way, closing the door immediately so that steam doesn't escape. Bake until loaves begin to color, about 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375 degrees and bake until loaves are a rich caramel color and the crusts are firm, another 15 to 20 minutes.
• To test the loaves for doneness, remove and hold the loaves upside down. Strike the bottoms firmly with your finger. If the sound is hollow, the breads are done. If it doesn't sound hollow, bake 5 minutes longer. Cool completely on wire racks.
• Note: If the dough temperature is higher than 78 degrees, put it in a cooler than (78 degree) place like the refrigerator, until the dough cools to 78 degrees. If it is lower than 78 degrees, put in it a warmer than 78 degree place until the dough warms to 78 degrees. The point is to try to keep the dough at 78 degrees during its fermentation. If you do have to move the dough, be gentle and don't jostle it, or the dough may deflate.
• *Couche?French for "couch" or "resting place". This is a simple holding device you make yourself for proofing long loaves like logs, torpedo shapes, and baguettes. Using well-floured canvas or linen towels create folds to separate loaves while hold them securely next to each other during proofing. Use a length of fabric at least a yard long. Place 12 to 16-inch wooden blocks cut from 2 by 4's at either long end to contain the loaves. Or substitute large books to contain the loaves.
• Place the chef in a tall 2 to 3-quart flat bottomed, round, clear plastic container with a tight fitting lid. Add the rye flour and spring water, and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture becomes thick and pasty. Mark the level of the mixture on the side of the container with a black marking pen. Scrape down, cover tightly, and let stand in a moderately warm (74 to 80 degree) draft-free place until almost doubled in volume, 8 to 10 hours. The mixture will look light and spongy. You can observe the level of sourdough by using the black mark on the side of the container as an indicator. Do not let the sourdough ferment for longer than 10 hours, or the yeast may exhaust itself and the dough may not rise properly. The ripe chef has now produced 18 ounces of ripe sourdough, which you can use in any rye sourdough recipe.
• The Rye Chef: Day 1 1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) spring water 2/3 cup (3 ounces) organic stone-ground rye flour, preferably medium ground
• In a tall 2 to 3-quart clear plastic container with a tight-fitting lid, stir together the water and flour. Scrape down the sides of the container with a rubber spatula. Cover tightly and put in moderate (74 to 80 degree) place for 24 hours.
• Day 2 1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) spring water 2/3 cup (3 ounces) organic stone-ground rye flour, preferably medium ground
• Open the container. The young chef will probably show few signs of activity; the mixture will look like cardboard pulp. Don't worry! It's still a young chef. It will, however, have a sweet and musty smell and the beginnings of a tangy taste. Continue building the chef by adding the water and rye flour. Stir vigorously to bring fresh oxygen into the chef and distribute the fresh flour and water. Scrape down the sides, cover tightly and put in a moderate (74 to 80 degrees) place for another 24 hours.
• Day 3 1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) spring water 2/3 cup (3 ounces) organic stone-ground rye flour, preferably medium ground
• The chef should have expanded noticeably. There should be bubbles on the surface. Taste it; it will have a pronounced sour taste and smell. Hold the container up and observe the large and small holes formed beneath the surface. Stir it with a wooden spoon; you should hear the faint crackle of gas bubbles popping. The chef is very much alive and maturing. Insert the spoon again and lift it up slowly. Short glutinous strands will stick to the spoon. Once again, nourish the chef by vigorously stirring in another addition of the spring water and rye flour. Scrape down the sides, cover tightly again, and return to its moderate-temperature place. Let stand for another 24 hours.
• Day 4 1/2 cup (4 fluid ounces) spring water 2/3 cup (3 ounces) organic stone-ground rye flour, preferably medium ground
• The chef is almost mature and ripe. It has expanded a great deal; maybe almost doubled in volume from Day 3, and it is very lively with bubbles and a well-developed cellular structure. You will see a honeycomb of large and small holes through the clear plastic container. Taste and smell the chef; it is pungent and unmistakably tangy, sour but not bitter. Nourish again with the last addition of spring water and rye flour, stirring vigorously. Using a black marker pen, mark the level of the chef on the side of the clear plastic container. Scrape down the sides, cover tightly, and let stand again in the same place for only 8 hours.
• If your chef was ripe, the mixture should almost double in volume. You can check its growth by comparing the height of the risen chef against the mark you made on the side of the container before the last rising.
• The chef is now ready to use to create your sourdough starter. If you are not going to make the starter immediately, refrigerate the chef in its tightly covered container for up to 3 days.

SOURDOUGH MULTIGRAIN BREAD WITH SEEDED CRUST

Steps:

• Measuring & Mixing
• Using a digital scale set to metric, measure 100g sourdough starter into a minimum 3 liter food grade container or large bowl.
• Using a scale, measure 400 g warm (not hot) water. Add water to starter. Mix well to create a milky slurry.
• Using a scale, measure flours. In a separate bowl, mix flours together. Then add flours to the slurry. Mix until no dry flour remains.
• Cover container tightly, set aside to rest for 20-30 minutes so flour will autolyze.
• Using a scale, measure 11 grams of sea salt. Sprinkle sea salt over the autolyzed flour and water mixture.
• Cut through the mixture three times by squeezing two fingertips together (like you are forming the "okay" symbol). Next, grab a small portion of dough from one side and pull dough up, then fold the dough down over itself. Be careful not to pull too much as dough will tear. Rotate the container a quarter turn and repeat. Do this a total of four times. After the final fold flip the dough over so folds are tucked below dough mass. HINT! Wet hands slightly before you work the dough. This is a sticky mess, so do your best and don't worry, as the dough will come together over the next few folds.
• Replace the cover and allow dough mixture to rest for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, measure and mix seeds together, set aside.
• Folding
• This recipe requires four folds over the next 2-3 hours. After the 10 minute rest, perform the first fold.
• Remove cover. Pull a small portion of dough from the outside of the dough mixture and stretch dough up (being careful not to tear it) and fold it down over itself. Do this a total of eight times while turning the container clockwise (no cutting this time). After the final fold, turn the dough over in the container so folds are tucked below the dough mass.HINT! When pulling and stretching, be careful not to tear the dough. It will not stretch very far during the first fold, but do not worry, you will do this three more times, each time the dough will stretch further. This process produces a loose round that tightens with each additional fold
• Replace cover and allow dough to relax 30 minutes.
• Remove cover. The dough will have relaxed. Perform the second fold. Pull a small portion of dough from the outside of the dough mixture and stretch dough up (being careful not to tear it) and fold it down over itself. Do this eight times while turning the container clockwise after each stretch and fold. After the final fold, turn the dough over in the container so folds are tucked under creating a round shape. Repeat this process two more times at 30 minute intervals.
• Bulk Fermentation (First Rise)
• After the fourth fold, cover the dough, allow it to complete the first rise in a warm place. Be patient! This will take between 4-8 hours depending on the temperature where dough rests and how active is your starter. Dough must double in size before moving on to the next step!HINT: Using a clear container allows you to easily see the progression of the rise. After the fourth fold, mark the container at the point where the doubled bread will rise; I use either a marker or an elastic around the container to indicate this point.
• Shaping
• When dough has doubled in size it will be lofty with good structure, bubbles on top and inside. Flour a work surface.
• Prepare the banneton (if using) by sprinkling the bottom with the seeds mix. Set aside.
• Turn dough out carefully onto a floured work surface so as not to lose too much of the gas structure. Use the bowl scraper to coax the sticky dough out of the container. Set container aside.
• Pull each of the four corners of the dough towards the center to form a loose ball.
• Flip the dough ball over so the folds are now on the bottom.
• Cup hands around the rear of the round shape and drag the dough towards you on the work surface. Turn the dough a quarter of a turn. Gently pick the dough up and place it further away from you again. Repeat four times or as many times as it takes to create a tightly rounded dough ball.HINT: You will need a little friction to drag the dough ball to tighten it into a round. If there is no friction, clear the work surface of the majority of flour and try again.
• Once you have a tight dough ball, flour the top of the dough ball. Pick it up by gently sliding cupped hands under either side of the ball.
• Lay the ball into the banneton on top of the seeds. Turn the ball around to cover the bottom evenly with seeds. Cover the banneton with plastic wrap, a plastic bag, or a linen towel.
• Proofing (Second Rise)
• Set the banneton in a warm place to proof. Allow the dough ball to rise until it has relaxed and doubled in size. This may take 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the room temperature. HINT: Or place the bread to proof in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours or overnight creating more sour flavor).
• Baking
• Approximately 45 minutes prior to the second rise being complete, place your Dutch oven onto the middle rack of your oven. Set oven temp to 475 F degrees. Set timer for 45 minutes.
• When timer buzzes, check if your dough has doubled and is ready to be baked.
• Pull preheated Dutch oven from the oven and place on a heat resistant surface. Caution! It will be very hot. Remove the lid and set it aside.
• Uncover the dough. Reach your fingers under the formed dough to gently loosen its grip on the Banneton or dish towel. Slightly tip the banneton sideways allowing the dough ball to gently flip upside down into the preheated pan (resulting in the previously folded side facing up). Cover the pan with the lid and return to the oven.
• Bake at 475 F degrees for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the lid from the Dutch oven. Bake at 475 degrees for an additional 10-15 minutes.HINT: The darker the outside caramelization is on the crust, the more flavor your bread will have. I personally like to bake this bread to a very rich dark brown to achieve a crunchy exterior and toast the seeds.
• Remove the Dutch oven and set on a heat proof surface.
• Cooling
• Immediately remove the bread from the Dutch oven after baking has finished. Set bread on a cooling rack to allow air flow around the bread.
• Listen to the symphony of crackling as the crust begins to cool.
• Allow to cool at least 15 minutes, preferably 30 minutes, before slicing.
• Storing
• If you do not use this bread immediately, it can be stored in the open air for 8 hours, or even overnight, as long as it is not cut.
• Once the bread has been cut, allow it to cool completely. Store cut side down on a cutting board for up to one day.
• After that time, slice the remaining bread, place slices in an airtight bag, and freeze the slices. Warm each slice in a toaster before eating.

HOW TO MAKE SOURDOUGH BREAD

Steps:

• First, make your starter. In a large bowl, mix together 100g of the flour with 125ml slightly warm water. Whisk together until smooth and lump-free.
• Transfer the starter to a large jar (a 1-litre Kilner jar is good) or a plastic container. Leave the jar or container lid ajar for 1 hr or so in a warm place (around 25C is ideal), then seal and set aside for 24 hrs.
• For the next 6 days, you will need to 'feed' the starter. Each day, tip away half of the original starter, add an extra 100g of flour and 125ml slightly warm water, and stir well. Try to do this at the same time every day.
• After 3-4 days you should start to see bubbles appearing on the surface, and it will smell yeasty and a little acidic. This is a good indicator that the starter is working.
• On day 7, the starter should be quite bubbly and smell much sweeter. It is now ready to be used in baking.
• Tip the flour, 225ml warm water, the salt, honey and the starter into a bowl, or a mixer fitted with a dough hook. Stir with a wooden spoon, or on a slow setting in the machine, until combined - add extra flour if it's too sticky or a little extra warm water if it's too dry.
• Tip onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 mins until soft and elastic - you should be able to stretch it without it tearing. If you're using a mixer, turn up the speed a little and mix for 5 mins.
• Place the dough in a large, well-oiled bowl and cover. Leave in a warm place to rise for 3 hrs. You may not see much movement, but don't be disheartened, as sourdough takes much longer to rise than a conventional yeasted bread.
• Line a medium-sized bowl with a clean tea towel and flour it really well or, if you have a proving basket, you can use this (see tips below). Tip the dough back onto your work surface and knead briefly to knock out any air bubbles. Shape the dough into a smooth ball and dust it with flour.
• Place the dough, seam-side up, in the bowl or proving basket, cover loosely and leave at room temperature until roughly doubled in size. The time it takes for your bread to rise will vary depending on the strength of your starter and the temperature in the room, anywhere from 4-8 hrs. The best indicators are your eyes, so don't worry too much about timings here. You can also prove your bread overnight in the fridge. Remove it in the morning and let it continue rising for another hour or 2 at room temperature. The slower the rise, the deeper the flavour you will achieve.
• Place a large baking tray in the oven, and heat to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Fill a small roasting tin with a little water and place this in the bottom of the oven to create steam. Remove the baking tray from the oven, sprinkle with flour, then carefully tip the risen dough onto the tray.
• Slash the top a few times with a sharp knife, if you like, then bake for 35-40 mins until golden brown. It will sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Leave to cool on a wire rack for 20 mins before serving.