Purple and Heirloom Ancient Wheat Sourdough with Sunflower Seeds
USING NEW MAGIMIX CE DOUGH BLADE
Ancient Purple Wheat and Heirloom Wheat, both unhybridised species of ancient wheat grains, have recently become available in Australia and are now being grown either organically or sustainably in the northern part of NSW. Even better the ones I have been able to get my hands on are stoneground, so they have retained the wheatgerm where all the goodness (vitamins, minerals, beneficial oil) lies. I have never been this excited since I found stoneground Australian organic Khorasan (aka Kamut)!
Purple wheat has the added benefit of the high antioxidant anthocyanin, which gives the same purple colour that exists in blueberries. All three ancient grains above (Khorasan, Purple Wheat, Heirloom) also have the added benefit of high protein but of a different variety than the usual kind; hence they are much more easily digestible compared to modern wheat protein/gluten. Though of course in my opinion, every grain must be either soaked, sprouted or lacto fermented as it is in sourdough bread fermentation prior to consumption.
I like to support this new wave of using ancient grains and the organic and/or sustainable farming of it here in Australia, as these grains are naturally drought and pest resistant, and are therefore much easier for our farmers to grow in Australia’s desert-like climate. Spelt on the other hand, is better suited to colder climates as it requires a lot more water to grow. So with this being said, lets support our farmers or these ancient varieties will become extinct and we will end up with only hybridised types of wheat.
And did I mention that it is so DELICIOUS ??? So here is a recipe for an amazingly delicious and highly digestible sourdough loaf. If you don’t already have a starter culture, you can make your own or purchase my 35+ year old starter culture from the online shop.
Do not over-knead or over-rise… the protein/gluten in these ancient varieties cannot tolerate vigorous kneading or over rising and high temperatures (26-28C is perfect).
For those of you on a FODMAP or low GI diet this bread may be suitable for you, but consult your health practitioner for advice.
Sourdough, Purple and Heirloom Ancient Wheat Grains (MAGIMIX CE)
Ingredients
STARTER ACTIVATION
- 50 g sourdough starter
- 60 g purple wheat flour, wholegrain flour fine stoneground
- 90 g filtered water
WET INGREDIENTS
- 200 g STARTER ACTIVE, from above
- 600 g filtered water
DRY INGREDIENTS
- 300 g purple wheat flour, wholegrain flour fine stoneground
- 500 g heirloom flour, atta or white unbleached 85% extraction (coarse bran removed) fine stoneground
- 15 g fine sea salt TO BE ADDED AFTER REST/ AUTOLYSE
- 100-150 g sunflower seeds TO BE ADDED AFTER KNEAD
Instructions
- Sourdough starter - Activate starter 6-12 hours prior to making dough. Whisk/Stir well and leave covered in the warmest spot in your house, but not in direct heat. Use when bubbly
- Measure ingredients - Beginning with the starter, weigh and place the wet ingredients into your Magimix metal bowl. Then weigh and add the dry ingredients, except salt
- ROUGH Mix ingredients - USE MAGIMIX CE DOUGH HOOK XL Set your machine to "BREAD/BRIOCHE" programme - speed 13, which will nicely mix/knead the dough in 1min increments. Run for the full 2 mins . The mixture will look dry at the beginning but the final dough mixture will be wet and homogeneous
- Rest - AUTOLYSE Let the dough rest in the bowl for 30-60 minutes.
- First rise - Unload the dough into a container with a lid or inside a freezer bag to rise for 1 hour in a covered container at a comfortable room temperature, around 20–25°C (68–77°F).
- KNEAD ADD SALT, Set your machine to "BREAD/BRIOCHE" programme - speed 13, for 1 min then rest for 30mins in the bowl. Repeat this sequence of 1 min knead and 30 min Rest, three times. Make sure that the lid is on in between knead (during rest times).
- Add sunflower seeds Add sunflower seeds then set your machine to "BREAD/BRIOCHE" programme - speed 13, for 1 min. The seeds will be equally distributed without being chopped.
- Divide and shape - Shape the dough into a ball and put it into your medium tin or floured banneton. If your tin is uncoated please brush tin with coconut oil and line with baking paper.
- Final rise/double the dough volume - Rise the shaped dough at a comfortable room temperature, around 20–25°C (68–77°F), until almost doubled. This will take 3-5 hours or longer if your room temperature is colder or shorter if your dough has risen substantially in the fridge. Preheat your oven to 250-260°C (455-500°F) with a Dutch OVEN to fit your loaf when your dough is almost doubled.
- Bake - Bake dough inside your dutch oven for 15 minutes at 250-260°C (455-500°F), then reduce the oven to 225°C (437°F) for a further 15 minutes. Take lid off the dutch oven and bake for a further 15-20 mins at 205°C (401°F) until the loaf has cooked through, turn the oven off, and let it sit for 10 minutes. If you are unsure, insert a thermometer, the inner temperature of the dough should be 95°C (203°F) or higher. Remove loaf from the oven, unload to a cooling rack taking care not to burn your fingers!
- Rest Let the bread cool before cutting. Suitable for freezing and will keep for a couple of months frozen.
Notes
What Equipment you need:
- Proving Basket
- Scales
- LARGE Mixing Bowl
- Spatula
- Dough Scrapers
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