Sage and onion bread

 

400g unbleached, organic strong white flour

100g spelt flour

120g sourdough starter

1 medium red onion (finely chopped)

20g chia seeds

30 sage leaves (finely chopped)

280g bottled water

15g olive oil

4g baker’s yeast

10g kosher salt

 

Sauté the red onion, in a small amount of olive oil, until softened.  Allow to cool.  Put the flour in a mixing bowl and add the water, sourdough starter, chia seeds, olive oil and sage leaves, salt and baker’s yeast.  Mix all the ingredients together and knead the dough for 6 to 8 minutes.  Add the onion and mix well.  Leave to rise covered by a tea towel for 90 minutes to 2 hours.  Take the dough from your bowl and flatten slightly into a disc.  Fold in 4 edges to the centre and shape into a ball.  Leave the dough to rise on a greased flat baking tray or well floured banneton (seam upwards) for about 2 hours or until it has doubled in bulk.  Dust with rye or spelt flour and slash a cross on the bread with a lame or a razor blade.  Pre-heat  the oven @ 220°C with a shallow tray of water at the bottom of the oven to create steam.  Bake for 26 minutes.  Allow to cool on a wire tray, covered with a tea towel.