tumeric onion sourdough
flavorful savory loaf with caramelized onions, sporting a brilliant yellow hue
formula
levain build
- 20 g levain
- 80 g water @ 85-90°F
- 20 g king arthur whole wheat flour
- 80 g king arthur all purpose flour
dough formula
- 260 g king arthur bread flour
- 100 g king arthur all purpose flour
- 40 g king arthur whole wheat flour
- 3 g turmeric powder (1.5 tsp)
- 342 g water @ 90-95°F
- 10 g fine sea salt
- 100 g ripe starter
lamination
- 100 g caramelized onions (200 g raw)
method
8 am: feed levain
- refresh your starter using levain build formula, and stiff starter method: reserve 20 g of levain, discard the rest, and add in water. mix thoroughly with spoon, or hands. then add the flours, mixing thoroughly again until all flour is absorbed.
8:30 am: prepare onions
- dice raw onions. melt 1 tbsp butter into saute pan, and cook onions on low heat for about 20 minutes, or until they are golden/caramel color. make sure there is minimal crowding in the pan. let cool completely.
3 pm: autolyse
- in a separate large bowl, mix all flours and tumeric together.
- slowly add water, mixing with a rubber spatula, making sure to incorporate the water into the flour well, stopping when all the flour is hydrated. let sit, covered, for 30 minutes.
3:30 pm: mix
- sprinkle salt evenly over autolysed dough. incorporate gently by folding dough over a 2-3 times.
- then, measure out ripe starter, and add to bowl.
- mix using the pincer method, for about 6-7 minutes. target final temperature should be 78 degrees.
3:37 pm: bulk fermentation
- this dough bulks for about 8 hrs during spring/fall, longer if your kitchen runs cool or during winter, and shorter if your kitchen runs warm or during the summer.
- this dough needs 3 stretch and folds, and a round of lamination after the first fold to incorporate the onions, spaced about 45 minutes apart if possible. alternatively, you may also perform coil folds, at about the same cadence.
11:30 pm: shape
- slowly transfer dough from bowl on to lightly floured surface, so it lays out in a rectangular shape. at this point, feel free to use your favorite shaping method. lately, i've been using a simple one: gently grab two horizontal ends and tug. fold the sides onto itself, so it looks like a taquito. then, grab the top and roll it in the other direction, like a burrito.
11:35 pm: proof
- lightly flour a lined bannetone/proofing basket or generously flour an unlined one. gently transfer the dough seam side up to the bannetone. cover with a plastic bag, and put in fridge for 12-16 hrs.
[next morning] 10 am: preheat
- preheat oven to 495°F and place a 5-6 qt lidded dutch oven inside.
11 am: score
- dough is proofed when it passes the finger dent test.
- sprinkle coarse corn meal on the bottom (optional), and flip out onto a cut sheet of parchment paper
- using a lame, score length wise, about 1/8" deep, and 1/2" away from both edges. sometimes, i optionally add a leaf design as well.
11:05 am: bake
- slowly and carefully lift the parchment paper with the dough into the hot dutch oven. decrease temperature to 475°F. bake for 30 minutes with the lid on.
- take the lid off, and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or whenever the crust turns the color you like it (i go for a caramel brown for this loaf, or whenever the ears look brown).
2 pm: slice & enjoy
- let this loaf cool on a wire rack (or something else that allows the air to circulate) for at least 2 hours before slicing.