This Pumpkin Sourdough Bread is fragrant with spices, subtly sweet and shaped like a pumpkin! A fun and easy (I promise!) sourdough bread recipe that’s perfect for Fall.
50g(scant ¼ cup) tepid water(filtered, bottled or boiled and cooled tap water)
For the sourdough loaf
100g( 3 ½ oz) active starter(most of the starter you prepared earlier)
300g(1 ¼ cups) water(filtered, bottled or boiled and cooled tap water)
100g( 3 ½ oz) canned pumpkin purée
3tbsphoney or maple syrup
1tbsp pumpkin spice
2tspground turmeric(this adds color)
12g(2 scant teaspoons) sea salt
500g(4 cups) white bread flour, more as needed
3tbspolive oil for the bowl
3tbspolive or vegetable oilfor the kitchen string
rice flour or gluten free flourfor the bowl or banetton, as needed
Instructions
Feed Your Sourdough Starter
Feed your mature starter. Leave for 4-6 hours, or until doubled in size, bubbly and floating in water (float test).
Prepare The Dough
Mix the starter and water together in a large bowl.
Add the pumpkin, spices, salt and honey. Mix well.
Add the bread flour and mix well with the dough whisk or your hands. It’s easier to have a feel for the dough if you use your hands. You will have a shaggy, slightly sticky dough. Cover the bowl and leave to rest for half an hour.
Stretch and Fold
Pull a section of the dough from the underside and stretch it upwards. Fold this over the rest of the dough. Rotate the bowl as you do this so you stretch the entire dough. You can do this a few times – every 30 minutes for two hours or just the once.
Transfer the dough into an oiled bowl, cover and leave to rise at room temperature for 6-10 hours. If it is a hot night then place the dough in the fridge where it will need 10-12 hours.
Shape The Sourdough
The following day take a look at your dough - it should have almost doubled. Mist your worktop with water and scrape the dough onto it – do not punch the dough down. Gently stretch the dough to form a rectangle.
Fold into three sections, like a letter. Roll the dough into a tight ball.
Flip over, seam side down, and shape into a round loaf (known as a “boule”). Use your hands and a bench scraper to roll the loaf in your hands, slightly tucking the edges under as you go (please check the video for a demo).
Second Rise
Line a bowl or basket with baking paper and lightly dust the paper and your loaf with gluten free flour or rice flour to prevent the bread from sticking to the paper. Cup the loaf in your hands and place into the prepared bowl seam side down.
Leave the dough to rise again for 30-120 minutes. Check your dough is ready to bake by gently prodding with a finger. If the indent springs back slowly leaving a small dent then you are ready to bake. If it springs back really quickly you need to allow it to rise for a little longer.
Shape your loaf
Cut four pieces of cotton string, about 24 inches long. Dip the string in vegetable oil and run between your fingers to get rid of excess oil. Position the strings on top of a round piece of parchment paper (cut so that it fits your Dutch Oven).
Place the loaf in the centre and tie the strings (not too tightly, to allow for the bread to expand as it bakes) over the loaf so that it is divided into eight equal sections.
Cut any excess string. Use a razor to slice the loaf in whatever pattern you like. I found the relatively shallow cuts are better for this tied up loaf.
Bake your Sourdough
Preheat your oven to 450F (230C) half an hour before the end of proving. Place a lidded pot (Dutch Oven) in the oven to preheat.
Remove the pot from the oven using pot holders (please be very careful). Place the loaf into the pot, lifting it by the baking paper.
Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 425F (220C). Take the lid off the pot and cook for another 20-25 minutes. You can lift the bread out of the pot and cook directly on the oven shelf for the final 5 minutes.
Leave the bread to cool, uncovered, for at least an hour or until it no longer feels warm to the touch. Remove the strings and boast about your pumpkin shaped sourdough!
Video
Notes
Ingredients and ToolsAS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CHECK OUT MY DISCLOSURE
Mature sourdough starter –if you haven’t got your own you can buy sourdough starter online or from a local bakery. If you happen to live close by just knock on my door!
Using a Banneton Basket If you are using a banneton basket (you need to prep this first before first use) dust the basket with rice or gluten free flour, shaking out some of the excess.Carefully transfer your load seam side up in this case. Cover with a bag and leave to rise. When the dough is ready to bake, after the second rise, carefully invert onto baking paper then proceed to bake in a Dutch Oven.Storing Sourdough Bread Cover the cooled loaf in a clean tea towel and store at room temperature – the bread will keep for 2-3 days.I prefer to slice the entire loaf and then freeze it – that way you can toast slices directly from frozen whenever the fancy takes you.