This is my #6 Sourdough and by far the most promising in flavor.

The sourdough below is a mix of White Bakers, Whole meal Spelt (sifted) and Whole Wheat Bakers. I have increased the hydration percentage (%) of the dough to 83% due to the mixture of flour being used. The aromatic of the rosemary when it is being baked in the oven adds so much savory-ness to the loaf with the potatoes included and it smells fantastic! I have even made French Onion soup to go with this loaf and the recipes are included below.

In comparison to my precious sourdough breads, I have increased the hydration % and added some spelt flour purely for flavor. This is my first time incorporating pureed potatoes and it turned out great!

If you have read my #5 Sourdough, I have done the "Slap and Fold" technique in combination with the "Lamination" before the 3 Coil Folds to create more strength to my loaf. So far the crumb result was much better with more open crumbs in the interior.

I was not sure if omitting one of the technique would still give me that crumb interior as it did in #5 Sourdough. So, I have decided to omit the "lamination" part for this batch (#6 Sourdough). The interior still looks great though!

The below makes 1 x 698 g mini loaf before baking

Starter

25 g Whole Wheat Ripe Starter

50 g Whole Wheat Flour

50 g Water

Dough Formula

173 g White Baker's Wheat Flour (65%)

48 g Whole Wheat Baker's Flour (18%)

45 g Spelt Flour (17%)

150 g Pureed Potatoes (2-3 Large) (56.25%)

4 g Chopped Rosemary (1.25%)

220 g Water (reserve 20g) (82%)

6.5 g Fine Salt (2.4%)

54 g Mature Levain (20%)

Total Hydration = 83%

(The night before)

I took out the starter from the fridge 3 hours to room temperature prior to feeding the starter.

The ratio I used was as follow:

25 Whole Wheat ripe Starter

65 g Whole Wheat Flour

35 g Water at 21°C

Mix the ingredients together in a air tight jar with a rubber band tied around the sides on the same level of the starter to monitor the yeast activity.

Leave at room temperature over night to mature. I left mine for 13 hours at room temperature in my kitchen standing at 24°C at 53% relative humidity. It was a pretty warm night here when I made this dough.

25 g Whole Wheat Baker's Flour

50 g Whole Wheat Flour

50 g Water at 24°C

Mix the ingredients together and mark the level of the Levain to monitor activity. Leave to mature.

My room temperature was sitting at 24°C at 51% humidity at this point.

The maturing process took my Levain on the 5 hours mark.

Meanwhile boil potatoes, skin off and that has been cut in to cubes. Strain the water then puree and leave it to cool. Set aside until ready to use.

2 hours before the Levain is estimated to be ready

Mix the water (reserving 20 g for incorporating later) and flours until there are no lumpy bits of flours.

Leave to autolyze for 2 hours.

2 hours after autolyze, 5 hours after making Levain

Do a float test to see if the Levain is ready. If it floats above water, it is good to go!.

Add the Levain and potato purees and mix by hand. I mixed for roughly around 3 minutes.

Rest for 30 minutes

Float Test

Mix Levain & Potato Puree

30 minutes later

Mix in the Salt, Rosemary and the rest of the water and do "slap & fold" in a lightly saturated work bench. I did mine for 16 minutes (weak arms) until the the dough are not as slack and is smooth on the surface.

At this point, there should feel some resistance in the dough when I try to stretch it but still still quite a soft dough because of the hydration %.

Rest the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover for 30 minutes

30 minutes after stretch and folds

Do a coil fold and let rest covered for 30 minutes.

30 minutes later

Do the second coil fold, cover and rest for another 30 minutes

30 minutes later

Do the third and Final Coil fold and let the dough rest for 30 minutes.

Pre Shape the dough. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes before final shaping.

Final shape and tighten the dough, flip it over so that the seam side is facing out. Place it into a well dusted banneton basket, pinch the seam side tight, then dust with some flour. Cover in plastic bag.

Store in the fridge sitting at 4°C overnight to retard proof.

15 hours later the next day

An hour prior to baking, place the cast iron pot with its lid in to the oven and pre heat the oven at 210°C.

At this point, the sourdough is still retarding in the fridge.

16 hours later

Remove the sourdough from the fridge, lightly dust the top of the loaf and score.

Carefully remove the cast iron pot from the oven and place the sourdough into the pot. Holding the lid close to the opening of the pot, spray some water and close the lid to trap the steam.

Bake with the lid on in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove the lid and continue baking for another 45 minutes.

Carefully remove the pot and tilt the sourdough on to a wire rack to fully cool before cutting the bread.

Serves 4

3 Large white onions

1/8 cup Plain Flour

1/4 cup White cooking wine

3 cups Beed Stock

2 Bay Leaves

Qs. Olive Oil

Qs. Butter (for onion soup and sourdough garlic spread)

Qs. Parsley

Qs Gruyere Cheese

Oil the pot with the olive oil and butter, toss in the sliced onions and bay leaves and stir to soften. Continuously stir occasionally until the onion starts to caramelized. Stir in the flour then deglaze with the wine. Add the beef stock and bring to a boil.

Meanwhile, prepare the sourdough. Mix melted butter with minced garlic and chopped parsley, then season with salt and pepper. Slice the sourdough in individual slices and spread with the garlic spread, place a slice of Gruyere then top with more of the garlic spread.

Place in a preheated oven at 170°C for 5 to 10 minutes or until the cheese have melted and the bread slices are slightly toasted.

Ladle the hot onion soup in to a soup bowl, dip the cheesy garlic toast and enjoy!