Beetroot Sourdough Bread Recipes

BEETROOT SOURDOUGH BREAD

Steps:

• Mixing
• Combine a portion of the water in the recipe with the beetroot and puree until smooth in a blender, food processor, or with an immersion blender.
• Using a mortar and pestle or a mallet and a plastic bag, crush the vitamin C tablet(s) and add the powder to the beetroot puree, mixing thoroughly to dissolve.
• Combine all of the ingredients except the 65g reserved water into a bowl and mix thoroughly. Add some or all of the reserved water based on your preferred dough hydration.
• Gluten Development
• Over the next two hours, stretch and fold or coil fold the dough with about a half-hour rest in between each session. If possible make one of the later gluten development sessions be lamination. The dough is likely wet enough that you won't need water on your counter. Here are videos of the various gluten development techniques.
• At about the three hour mark, refrigerate the dough overnight (or 8-12 hours) in order to develop even more strength. You can also skip this step and simply continue the bulk fermentation until the dough has expanded by 50-75%.
• Pre-Shape, Bench Rest & Shaping
• In the morning, preshape the cold dough and let it rest uncovered on your counter for 20-30 minutes.
• Prep your you banneton liner/tea towel with plenty of flour.
• Shape your dough into the loaf type you prefer. Here's are a variety of different shaping videos.
• Flour the top of the shaped dough, flip it into your banneton, and cover.
• Final Proof & Baking
• Let the dough final proof for about two hours at room temperature, possibly longer if your kitchen temperature is under 70F and shorter if you didn't do the overnight refrigeration (cool dough).
• Preheat your oven to 500F for 30 minutes with your baking vessel inside.
• When the preheat is complete, flip the dough onto a piece of parchment paper, score it, and load it into the baking vessel.
• If using a clay baker, bake the bread:
• 20 minutes covered at 500F
• 10 minutes covered at 450F
• 5-10 minutes uncovered at 450F
• If using a cast iron vessel, add a sheet of foil under the parchment and bake the bread:
• 20 minutes covered at 500F, then add a baking sheet directly under the vessel
• 10 minutes covered at 450F
• 5-10 minutes uncovered at 450F
• Let the bread cool for about 2 hours before slicing.

UNBEETABLE SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD

Steps:

• The night before combine the ingredients for sponge, cover lightly with plastic wrap and allow to stand in a draft free place overnight. The sponge should have bubbled and have a pleasant sour odor.
• The next morning, stir down and divide the sponge. For the onion rye, warm the olive oil in a small pan and cook the green onions until wilted. Set aside and allow to cool.
• Proof the yeast in 1/2 cup warm water with sugar for 5 minutes or until bubbly. Add the proofed yeast to 1 portion of the sponge along with onions, butter, milk powder, cocoa, salt and rye flour; add the all-purpose flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough forms a ball and leaves sides of bowl. The dough will be lightly tacky but manageable with floured hands.
• Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Place in a large bowl that has been lightly greased with olive oil, turning to coat, cover loosely with a damp cloth and allow to rise until double, approximately 1 hour.
• For bread 2, proof the yeast in 2 tablespoons warm water with sugar for 5 minutes or until bubbly. To puree the beets add them with reserved liquid to a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
• Add the proofed yeast to sponge along with beets, dill weed, dill seed, butter, milk powder, salt, food coloring and rye flour. Add the the all-purpose flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough forms ball and leaves the sides of the bowl. The dough will be lightly tacky but manageable with floured hands.
• Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Place in a large bowl that has been lightly greased with olive oil, turning to coat, cover loosely with a damp cloth and allow to rise until double, approximately 1 hour.
• To make the bread, punch down each of the doughs and knead lightly. Divide each into 2 equal portions. There will be a total of 2 "onion" and 2 "beet".
• Shape each portion into a 10 inch rope. Using 1 of each color tightly braid ropes and when braided twist lightly. With dampened fingers, seal the dough where the colors join. Turn ends under and place in loaf pans that have been lightly oiled.
• Cover with towel and allow to rise until double. The second rise took about 45 minutes. Drizzle the tops of the loaves with olive oil and bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until done. Tap the top of the loaf and if it sounds hallow it is baked through.
• Remove from pans and place on wire rack; allow to cool, slice and enjoy.